Presentation at the Temple

Mary hands her child to Simeon, a pious and old temple visitor. It is an important moment for Simeon, who had been told in a prophecy that he would not die before having seen the promised Salvator. The moment has come.

The man at the center is Joseph. To the right are probably Bellini himself and, behind him, his brother-in-law Andrea Mantegna. To the left are Bellini's sister (Mantegna's wife) and their mother.

The panel shows a strong resemblance to Mantegna's Presentation, which he made a few years earlier.