Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Apostles

Carlo Crivelli, 1473

Name Class Date
Carlo Crivelli, Apostles (1473). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Carlo Crivelli originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/carlo-crivelli/
Artist’s dates
1435 – 1495
Painted
1473
Medium
Tempera Pigment mixed with egg yolk — fast-drying, matt, and used for centuries before oil paint arrived.
Original size
29 x 17 cm
Movement
Early Renaissance The first generation to rebuild depth and lifelike bodies in painting after the Middle Ages.
Period
Renaissance
Artistic style
Late Gothic and Renaissance naturalism
Influences
Vivarini, Squarcione, Mantegna
Notable elements
Intricate details, trompe l'oeil
Subject or theme
Religious figures and Apostles

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Carlo Crivelli died in 1495; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1565.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

Apostles — Carlo Crivelli Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Apostles — Carlo Crivelli

How big is it?

The original measures 29 × 17 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1430
  2. 1440
  3. 1450
  4. 1460
  5. 1470
  6. 1480
  7. 1490

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 60 at death.

Painted when the artist was 38. The artist lived to 60. 22 of the 105 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Carlo Crivelli (1435–1495) ▲ this work, 1473 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1473 Main working years: 1473–1490 Late works: from 1490

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

  • Virgin and Child, 1482 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-virgin-and-child-8XXR56-en/
  • Pietà, 1470 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-pieta-8XXR69-en/
  • St George, 1472 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-st-george-8Y35V2-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Clay #996a57

    Catalogued palette

    • #996A57
    • #4D302D
    • #C4AC91
    • #F9F7F3

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Clay
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Carlo Crivelli over the last twelve months — 13 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 64.9%
    2. 2 United States of America 15.8%
    3. 3 Singapore 6.1%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 2.6%
    5. 5 Germany 1.8%
    6. 6 Mexico 1.8%
    7. 7 Uruguay 1.8%
    8. 8 Austria 0.9%
    9. 9 Brazil 0.9%
    10. 10 Spain 0.9%
    11. · 3 other countries 2.5%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Carlo Crivelli

    1. 1 Madonna of the Passion, 1460 3.1%
    2. 2 Annunciation with Saint Emidius, 1486 3.1%
    3. 3 Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 1485 2.3%
    4. 4 St Jerome and St Augustine (detail), 1490 2.3%
    5. 5 St George, 1472 2.3%
    6. 6 St Jerome and St Augustine, 1490 2.3%
    7. 7 Polittico di Ascoli Piceno 2.3%
    8. 8 St. Thomas of Aquino 2.3%
    9. 9 María Magdalena 1 2.3%
    10. 10 Apostol St. Peter 2.3%
    11. 11 Virgin and Child, 1482 1.6%
    12. 12 Virgin proclamation, 1482 1.6%
    13. 13 Saint Bartholomew, 1475 1.6%
    14. 14 Madonna and Child Enthroned, 1477 1.6%
    15. 15 Saint James of the Marches with two kneeling donor, 1477 1.6%
    16. 16 Saint Michael, 1476 1.6%
    17. 17 Apostles, 1473 this painting 1.6%
    18. 18 Saint John the Baptist, 1468 1.6%
    19. 19 Coronation of the Virgin, 1493 1.6%
    20. 20 St Peter and St Paul, 1490 1.6%

    Together these works take 40.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 192 works by this artist, of which 82 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 17 of them, with 1.6% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli

    A Vision of Devotion: The Intricate World of Crivelli’s Apostles

    In the quiet sanctity of the 15th century, few artists possessed the ability to marry the divine with the tactile as masterfully as Carlo Crivelli. His 1473 masterpiece, Apostles, serves as a breathtaking window into the Early Renaissance, offering much more than a mere religious depiction. At first glance, the viewer is struck by the profound presence of the central figure, a man whose steady gaze and grasp on sacred scripture command immediate reverence. Clad in a rich, crimson robe that suggests both earthly nobility and spiritual weight, he stands as a sentinel of faith. The painting does not merely depict a moment in time; it invites the observer into a meticulously constructed universe where every fold of fabric and every glint of light serves to elevate the soul.

    The brilliance of this work lies in Crivelli’s unique ability to blend the decorative splendor of the Late Gothic tradition with the burgeoning naturalism of the Renaissance. Unlike his Venetian contemporaries who sought soft, atmospheric transitions, Crivelli embraced a sharp, linear precision. Through the delicate medium of tempera, he achieved a luminous depth that makes the textures of the painting feel almost tangible. One can almost sense the weight of the heavy textiles and the cold smoothness of the marble accents that adorn the composition. This technique, often incorporating trompe l'oeil elements, creates an illusionistic space where the boundaries between the painted world and our own reality begin to blur, making the artwork a captivating centerpiece for any sophisticated collection.

    Symbolism and the Art of Detail

    Beyond its visual splendor, Apostles is a profound study in symbolic storytelling. The composition is a carefully balanced dance of figures and objects; while the foreground figure anchors the piece, the background teems with life, featuring other figures engaged in quiet contemplation or dialogue. This layering creates a sense of communal devotion, suggesting that the message of the Apostles is an ongoing, living narrative. The inclusion of sumptuous decorations—ranging from intricate fruit arrangements to ornate architectural details—is not merely ornamental. These elements serve as metaphors for the abundance of divine grace and the richness of the spiritual life, grounding the ethereal subject matter in a world of sensory beauty.

    For the discerning collector or interior designer, this painting offers an unparalleled opportunity to introduce a sense of historical gravity and intellectual depth into a space. A high-quality reproduction of this work brings with it the intense expressionism and dramatic tension that Crivelli was known for. Whether placed in a curated gallery setting or used as a focal point in a classically styled room, the Apostles acts as a conversation starter, evoking the scholarly atmosphere of an Italian Renaissance study. It is a piece that rewards prolonged study, revealing new layers of detail and emotion with every glance, ensuring that its impact remains as potent today as it was in 1473.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Carlo Crivelli

    Born in Venice, Italy

    early life and training

    carlo crivelli, an italian renaissance painter, was born in venice around 1430-35. he came from a family of painters and received his artistic formation in venice and padua. crivelli's early training is believed to have been under jacobello del fiore, who was still active in 1436. he also studied at the school of vivarini in venice.

    career and style

    crivelli spent his early years in the veneto, absorbing influences from vivarini, squarcione, and mantegna. by 1458, he left the veneto and spent most of his career in the march of ancona, developing a distinctive personal style that contrasts with that of his venetian contemporary giovanni bellini. crivelli's work is characterized by a conservative late gothic decorative sensibility, marked by a linear quality, attention to detail, and the use of "trompe l'oeil" techniques.

    notable works and collaborations

    * carlo crivelli's painting "madonna and child enthroned" (106 x 55 cm, museum of fine arts, budapest, hungary) is a prime example of his style. he collaborated with his younger brother vittorio crivelli on several projects. pietro alemanno, a painter who immigrated to the march of ancona from germany/austria, was his pupil and collaborator.

    museums and collections

    * the pinacoteca di brera in milan, italy, features several of crivelli's works, including "pietà" (128 x 241 cm). * the museum san giovanni in bragora in venice, italy, has a collection of artworks from various periods and styles, including some attributed to crivelli.

    view carlo crivelli's artworks on AllPaintingsStore.com

    explore jacopo robusti's works on AllPaintingsStore.com

    read more about carlo crivelli on wikipedia

    crivelli's legacy continues to inspire art enthusiasts and scholars alike, with his work remaining a testament to the enduring power of conservative late gothic decorative sensibility.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Apostles

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Crivelli, Carlo. Apostles. 1473, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/
    APA
    Crivelli, Carlo (1473). Apostles [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/
    Chicago
    Carlo Crivelli. Apostles. 1473. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/
    Harvard
    Crivelli, Carlo (1473) Apostles. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-apostles-8XXR5J-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: man, book, red robe. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Virgin and Child (1482), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Early Renaissance: The first generation to rebuild depth and lifelike bodies in painting after the Middle Ages. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 27, 2026

    Apostles — Carlo Crivelli Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What technique and style characterize "Apostles" by Carlo Crivelli?

    In "Apostles", the tempera technique meets the Early Renaissance movement.

    What size and orientation are recommended for a print of "Apostles" by Carlo Crivelli?

    A print of "Apostles" by Carlo Crivelli is recommended at a small size in tall orientation.

    Is "Apostles" typical of what Carlo Crivelli usually created?

    Among Carlo Crivelli's recorded themes - vivarini and mantegna influence, late gothic decorative style, religious apostles theme, renaissance naturalism, distinctive march of ancona style - "Apostles" brings its own focus on man, book, red robe, figures, clothing details.