Carmini
Encyclopedia
Santa Maria dei Carmini, also called Santa Maria del Carmelo and commonly known simply as the Carmini, is a small church in the sestiere or neighbourhood of Dorsoduro
in Venice
, northern Italy
. It nestles against the former Scuola Grande di Santa Maria del Carmelo, also known as the Scuola dei Carmini. This charitable confraternity was officially founded in 1597, and arose from a lay women's charitable association, the Pinzocchere dei Carmini. The members of this lay group were associated as tertiaries to the neighbouring Carmelite monastery. They were responsible for stitching the scapular
s for the Carmelites.
The church originally was called Santa Maria Assunta, and first dated to the 14th century. The brick and marble facade contains sculpted lunettes by Giovanni Buora. Among the roofline decorations are images of Elisha and Elijah, thought to be founders of the Carmelite order. The Campanile built by Giuseppe Sardi
is topped by a statue of the Madonna del Carmine sculpted in 1982 as a replacement by Romano Vio. The previous original was destroyed by lightning.
The chancel and side chapels in the interior were rebuilt in 1507-14 by Sebastiano Mariani from Lugano. The counter-facade has a grandiose monument to Jacopo Foscarini who was a procurator of San Marco
, admiral of the fleet, and whose family palace lies across the canal.
The second altar has an Adoration of the Shepherds (1509–11) by Cima da Conegliano
. The third altar on the right has a Madonna del Carmelo with saints (1595) by Pase Pace and Giovanni Fontana
. The Staues of Virginity (left) and Humility (right (1722–1723) were completed by Antonio Corradini
and Giuseppe Torritti respectively. The bronze angels on the balustrade are by Girolamo Campagna
. The wooden frontal represents the Miracles of the Madonna (1724) and was carved by Francesco Bernadoni. The Tabernacle is by Giovanni Scalfarotto.
The Glorification of the Scapular (1709) was frescoed by Sebastiano Ricci
on the ceiling. The stucco work was completed by Pietro Bianchini to designs of Abbondio Stazio. In the fresco, the angels uphold the scapular, and a painted inscription say it is an ornament of Mt Carmel. Past the entry to the sacristy is the altar of the guild of the Compravendi Pesce (1548) with an altarpiece of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (1541–1542) by Jacopo Tintoretto.
The third chapel on the left has a Lamentaton of the Dead Christ (c. 1476) by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. In front of the chancel are paintings by Marco Vicentino, Palma il Giovane, and Gaspare Diziani
. The second altar has two statues of Elijah and Elisha by Tommaso Ruer. Elijah holds a flaming sword. The first altar has a painting of Saint Nicholas of Bari in Glory between St. John the Baptist and St Lucy by Lorenzo Lotto
.
The upper register of the nave is lined with 24 large canvases from the 1666-1730s, painted by artists such as Pellegrini
, Diziano, Girolamo Brusaferro and Pietro Liberi
. The choirs includes 3 paintings (c. 1545) by Andrea Meldolla.
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice, northern Italy.Dorsoduro includes the highest land areas of the city and also Giudecca island and Isola Sacca Fisola...
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It nestles against the former Scuola Grande di Santa Maria del Carmelo, also known as the Scuola dei Carmini. This charitable confraternity was officially founded in 1597, and arose from a lay women's charitable association, the Pinzocchere dei Carmini. The members of this lay group were associated as tertiaries to the neighbouring Carmelite monastery. They were responsible for stitching the scapular
Scapular
The term scapular as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacramentals, namely the monastic and devotional scapulars, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular"....
s for the Carmelites.
The church originally was called Santa Maria Assunta, and first dated to the 14th century. The brick and marble facade contains sculpted lunettes by Giovanni Buora. Among the roofline decorations are images of Elisha and Elijah, thought to be founders of the Carmelite order. The Campanile built by Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi was an Italian architect active in Rome. He was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, Marche which was then part of the Papal States...
is topped by a statue of the Madonna del Carmine sculpted in 1982 as a replacement by Romano Vio. The previous original was destroyed by lightning.
The chancel and side chapels in the interior were rebuilt in 1507-14 by Sebastiano Mariani from Lugano. The counter-facade has a grandiose monument to Jacopo Foscarini who was a procurator of San Marco
Procurator of San Marco
The office of Procurator of San Marco was the second most prestigious life appointment in the Republic of Venice .-History:...
, admiral of the fleet, and whose family palace lies across the canal.
The second altar has an Adoration of the Shepherds (1509–11) by Cima da Conegliano
Cima da Conegliano
Giovanni Battista Cima, also called Cima da Conegliano was an Italian Renaissance painter.-Biography:Giovanni Battista Cima was born at Conegliano, now part of the province of Treviso, in 1459 or 1460...
. The third altar on the right has a Madonna del Carmelo with saints (1595) by Pase Pace and Giovanni Fontana
Giovanni Fontana (Dominican)
Giovanni Fontana was a Dominican friar and late-Mannerist architect, as well as brother of Domenico Fontana.-External links:*...
. The Staues of Virginity (left) and Humility (right (1722–1723) were completed by Antonio Corradini
Antonio Corradini
Antonio Corradini was a Venetian Rococo sculptor.Corradini was born in Este and worked mainly in the Veneto, but also completed commissions for work outside Venice, including Naples....
and Giuseppe Torritti respectively. The bronze angels on the balustrade are by Girolamo Campagna
Girolamo Campagna
Girolamo Campagna was a Northern Italian sculptor.Born in Verona, he studied under Jacopo Sansovino and Danese Cattaneo, and completed many of the latter's works. He was responsible for the figure of Doge Leonardo Loredano on the tomb which Cattaneo made in Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice...
. The wooden frontal represents the Miracles of the Madonna (1724) and was carved by Francesco Bernadoni. The Tabernacle is by Giovanni Scalfarotto.
The Glorification of the Scapular (1709) was frescoed by Sebastiano Ricci
Sebastiano Ricci
Sebastiano Ricci was an Italian painter of the late Baroque school of Venice. About the same age as Piazzetta, and an elder contemporary of Tiepolo, he represents a late version of the vigorous and luminous Cortonesque style of grand manner fresco painting.-Early years:He was born in Belluno, son...
on the ceiling. The stucco work was completed by Pietro Bianchini to designs of Abbondio Stazio. In the fresco, the angels uphold the scapular, and a painted inscription say it is an ornament of Mt Carmel. Past the entry to the sacristy is the altar of the guild of the Compravendi Pesce (1548) with an altarpiece of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (1541–1542) by Jacopo Tintoretto.
The third chapel on the left has a Lamentaton of the Dead Christ (c. 1476) by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. In front of the chancel are paintings by Marco Vicentino, Palma il Giovane, and Gaspare Diziani
Gaspare Diziani
Gaspare Diziani was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque or Roccoco period, active mainly in the Veneto but also in Dresden and Munich.-Biography:...
. The second altar has two statues of Elijah and Elisha by Tommaso Ruer. Elijah holds a flaming sword. The first altar has a painting of Saint Nicholas of Bari in Glory between St. John the Baptist and St Lucy by Lorenzo Lotto
Lorenzo Lotto
Lorenzo Lotto was a Northern Italian painter draughtsman and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school. He painted mainly altarpieces, religious subjects and portraits...
.
The upper register of the nave is lined with 24 large canvases from the 1666-1730s, painted by artists such as Pellegrini
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini was a widely-travelled Rococo decorative painter from Venice, where he was born and died...
, Diziano, Girolamo Brusaferro and Pietro Liberi
Pietro Liberi
Pietro Liberi was an Italian painter of the Baroque era, active mainly in Venice and the Veneto.Liberi was born in Padua, his earliest training was with Alessandro Varotari . He traveled extensively in Italy. During a voyage to Istanbul, he was captured into bondage for 8 months by pirates from...
. The choirs includes 3 paintings (c. 1545) by Andrea Meldolla.