Although the viewer would most likely expect the “sacra conversazione” to be the altarpiece’s main attraction, the altarpiece’s exceptional background is surprisingly the cause of debate. Rather than coinciding an iconic religious background with the conventional religious imagery in the foreground, the artist unexpectedly copied a secular landscape from Guilio Campagnola’s print “Shepherds in a Landscape” as this altarpiece’s background. Rather than the conventional background of golden leaves and angels, the viewer instead finds a background of trees and pastures. “Sacra conversazione” stuns in that it blends the unexpected, putting together a formalized, sacred image with a secular, pastoral landscape.

The attempt at this fusion is significant: Not only is this altarpiece one of the first paintings to integrate early Renaissance sacred images with a naturalistic setting, but it is also a clear indication of progress from the slow erosion of strict conventions towards modern artistic expression.

“Sacred and Profane Visions of Renaissance Venice” not only brings together the giants of Italian Renaissance or merely juxtapose ordinary landscape drawings with sacred imagery. By combining different media and different contexts, by subtly revealing the relationships and progression of religious paintings, the exhibit interests as well as educates. Better yet—it is but a mere walk away.