Jacopo Bellini's Book of Drawings in the Louvre

More about the book

The book delves into the history of the Louvre Album, previously attributed solely to Jacopo Bellini, revealing its connection to the Paduan painter Francesco Squarcione. It highlights how Squarcione commissioned and financed the drawings, delegating the work to his talented students, including Andrea Mantegna. The themes of the drawings—ranging from anatomy and perspective to mythology and zoology—reflect the curriculum of Squarcione's renowned art academy established in the 1440s, which significantly influenced the training of Renaissance artists.