Vittore Carpaccio

Venetian Renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio (c. 1460-1525/26) was the greatest early narrative painter of his school. He studied under Gentile Bellini and was influenced by Antonello da Messina and Early Netherlandish painting. A master visual storyteller, he painted cycles of large canvases telling tales in episodes, almost like storyboards for a film. His detailed scenes capture 15th-century Venice with documentary precision.

His first major project, the nine-canvas Legend of Saint Ursula (1490-1500) for the Scuola di Santa Orsola, established his reputation. The Dream of St. Ursula is praised for its wealth of naturalistic detail, while the Departure of St. Ursula displays splendid architecture and teeming crowds. His cycle for the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni (1502) depicting Saints George, Tryphon, and Jerome represents the climax of his art. John Ruskin celebrated his attention to detail in the 19th century. According to legend, Venetian chef Giuseppe Cipriani named the beef dish "carpaccio" after him because its vibrant reds recalled the painter's colors. His works remain at the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni in Venice.