The Contarini Madonna is an oil painting

Oil painting

Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...

 by the Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini

Giovanni Bellini

Giovanni Bellini was an Italian Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. His father was Jacopo Bellini, his brother was Gentile Bellini, and his brother-in-law was Andrea Mantegna. He is considered to have revolutionized Venetian painting, moving it...

, dating from c. 1475-1480 now in the Accademia

Accademia

The Accademia is a museum gallery of pre-19th century art in Venice, northern Italy. Situated on the south bank of the Grand Canal, within the sestiere of Dorsoduro, it gives its name to one of the three bridges across the canal, the Ponte dell'Accademia, and to the boat landing station for the...

 Gallery in Venice

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

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Description

The painting shows the Madonna holding Jesus who stands on a parapet in the foreground. Below is a cartouche with the artist's signature, IOANNES BELLINVS. The blessing Child has similar features than that in the San Giobbe Altarpiece

San Giobbe Altarpiece

The San Giobbe Altarpiece is a c. 1487 oil painting by the Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini, now in the Accademia Gallery in Venice.-History:...

, dating to the same decade or a a few years later. His icon-like staring appearance recalls the Byzantine painting, which was one of the roots of the Venetian painting school.

The background is formed by a soft landscape, with hills and a city with towers.