Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Church of San Giorgio Maggiore | |
Church of San Giorgio Maggiore (view from Piazza San Marco) |
|
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Venice |
| Geographic coordinates | 45°25′46″N 12°20′35″E / 45.4293, 12.3431 |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| District | Patriarchate of Venice |
| Leadership | Benedictine monks |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Andrea Palladio |
| Year completed | 1610 |
| Specifications | |
San Giorgio Maggiore is a basilica in Venice, Italy designed by Andrea Palladio and located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Facing Saint Mark Basin, the church plays a central role in the panorama from the Piazzetta.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first St George’s church dates back to the 8-9th century. In 982 the whole island was donated to a Benedictine monk, who founded the adjacent monastery.
The present church was begun in 1566, and was not entirely finished before the death of Palladio in 1580. The façade was continued by Vincenzo Scamozzi based on the original architect's designs and completed in 1610. The church, sometimes designated as a basilica, is a prime example of Palladio's architectural style, and one of the finest churches he designed. The bell tower, first built in 1467, fell in 1774; the reconstruction was completed in 1791. The Benedictine monks still officiate in the church.
[edit] Exterior
The façade is brilliantly white and represents Palladio's solution to the problem of adapting a classical temple motif with the form of the Christian church, with its high nave and low side aisles, by placing a wide pediment across the top of the aisles with the architrave continuing across the church facade, whilst the nave supports its narrower pediment atop monumental pilasters. This solution is similar to the nearly contemporary project for San Francesco della Vigna. [1] Beside the central portal are the statues of St George and Saint Stephen, to whom the church is also consecrated.
[edit] Interior
The interior also is very bright with massive pilasters on undecorated, white-surfaced walls, creating an interior that expresses the Classical feel of a Renaissance design. As the façade, the interior plan is original in combining the central plan of classical tradition with the cruciform plan; this reveals the beginning influence of Counter-Reformation on the Renaissance tendencies in church architecture. As a matter of fact the dome divides both the church axis in two equal parts, with the longitudinal longer than the transversal. The aisles and the vast choir behind the presbytery sum up to this plan; therefore the best position to realize it is maybe under the dome. Many remarkable paintings are displayed in the church. The most important are: Madonna in throne with Saints by Sebastiano Ricci; Last Supper and Fall of manna by Jacopo Tintoretto (in the presbytery); other paintings by Palma il Giovane, Domenico Tintoretto, Jacopo Bassano.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sutton. Western Architecture, p.147.
[edit] Sources
- Hartt, Frederick; David G. Wilkins. History of Italian Renaissance Art. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
- Sutton, Ian (1999). "The Renaissance:Ancient Rome 'Reborn'", Western Architecture: From Ancient Greece to the Present, World of Art. London: Thames and Hudson, p.147. ISBN 0-500-20316-4.
- Guida d’Italia del Touring Club Italiano – Venezia. 3° ed. ISBN 978-88-365-4347-2
- S. Vianello (a cura di) Le chiese di Venezia. Electa, 1993 ISBN 88-435-4048-3
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
|
|||||||
