The Scuola Grande dei Carmini is a confraternity building in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, Italy. It is located in the

sestiere A (plural: ) is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from (‘sixth’), so it is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example is the ''sestieri'' of Venice, but Ascoli Piceno, Genoa, M ...

Dorsoduro Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice, in northern Italy. Dorsoduro includes the highest land areas of the city and also Giudecca island and Isola Sacca Fisola. Its name derives from the Italian for "hard ridge", due to its comparati ...

, before Campo dei Carmini and Campo Santa Margherita, upon which its facade looks. It stands, separated by an alley, to the northeast of the church of Santa Maria dei Carmini.

History

It was the former home of the Venetian Scuola of the same name. The Scuola was founded in 1594 under Doge Pasquale Cicogna, and was the last of its kind to be recognized as a '' Scuola Grande'' in 1767 by the Council of Ten. Initially it was located in the Convent of the Church of

Carmini Santa Maria dei Carmini, also called Santa Maria del Carmelo and commonly known simply as the Carmini, is a large Roman Catholic church in the sestiere, or neighbourhood, of Dorsoduro in Venice, northern Italy. It nestles against the former ''Sc ...

, whose structure also faces the campo of the same name. The present scuola building was designed by Francesco Caustello and

Baldassare Longhena Baldassare Longhena (1598 – 18 February 1682) was an Italian architect, who worked mainly in Venice, where he was one of the greatest exponents of Baroque architecture of the period. Biography Born in Venice, Longhena studied under the architec ...

. In 1807, the confraternity was suppressed by Napoleon's anticlerical decrees. The Austrians allowed the Scuola to reopen, and it continues activities today, though mostly cultural activities.

Exterior

The entrance facade and porch are of Baroque style, are facing south and overlook the southwestern tip of Campo Santa Margherita, while the west facade is parallel to the left of the nave of Carmini church. and visible from Campo dei Carmini. The whiteness of the two facades is due to their Istrian stone surface and opposes the black thick wrought iron balustrades that close all the windows of the building.

Interior

The Scuola dei Carmini contains many works of great artistic value, due to their presence in their original location.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Inside the school, on the ground floor, there is a large chapel (''Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo'') with a single nave, baroque style, the ceiling is apparent woodwork is remarkable. The main altar is dedicated to

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Virgin of Carmel, is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order, particularly within the Catholic Church. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Ca ...

, protector of the brotherhood, the painting of the altarpiece, an oil on canvas of the Venetian painter Sante Piatti, represents it. The piece is entirely decorated with

grisaille Grisaille ( or ; french: grisaille, lit=greyed , from ''gris'' 'grey') is a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish colour. It is particularly used in large decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture. Many g ...

paintings by

Niccolò Bambini Niccolò Bambini (1651–1736) was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance and early-Baroque periods. Biography He was born in Venice in 1651, and first studied under Giulio Mazzoni at Venice. To this period belong the ceiling of the church o ...

. On the left wall ''the circumcision of Jesus'', surrounding the access to the staircase of

, ''Faith, Hope and Charity''. On the right wall ''The rest of the holy family in Egypt'' and ''the Assumption of the Virgin''. From this room, to the right of the stairs you can access the sacristy, a small room covered by a barrel vault and embellished by the original wooden seats. Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo.jpg, The Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - Madonna del Carmelo - Sante Piatti.jpg, Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Sante Piatti Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - le scale di Baldassare Longhena.jpg, the staircase of

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - La circoncisione di Gesù - Niccolò Bambini .jpg, ''The circumcision of Jesus'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - La Fede - Niccolò Bambini.jpg, ''Faith'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - Allegoria della speranza - Niccolò Bambini.jpg, ''Hope'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - Allegoria della Carità - Niccolò Bambini.jpg, ''Charity'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - L'assunzione di Maria - Niccolò Bambini.jpg, ''the Assumption of the Virgin'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Cappella della Madonna del Carmelo - Resto della Sacra Famiglia in Egitto - Niccolò Bambini.jpg, ''The rest of the holy family in Egypt'' by

The stairs and the corridor

The grand staircase and the corridor with barrel vaults on a drawing of

, were made by his pupil

Antonio Gaspari Antonio Gaspari was an Italian architect of the late-Baroque, active in both Venice and the terrafirma of the Veneto. He was a pupil of Baldassarre Longhena, and upon his master's death in 1682, he completed some of his projects, including Longhena ...

. The sculptures are the work of Alvise Bassi and were erected between 1728 and 1729. Three medallions in the last ramp show the theological virtues, the frescoes of Sante Piatti date from 1733. Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Scalone e corridoio.jpg, The corridor Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Scalone e corridoio - La Fede di Sante Piatti.jpg, ''Faith'' by Sante Piatti Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Scalone e corridoio - La Speranza di Sante Piatti.jpg, ''Hope'' by Sante Piatti Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Scalone e corridoio - La Carità di Sante Piatti.jpg, ''Charity'' by Sante Piatti

The capitular hall

It is the largest of the rooms and contains famous frescoes (actually paintings on canvas in the ceiling) completed by

Giambattista Tiepolo Giovanni Battista Tiepolo ( , ; March 5, 1696 – March 27, 1770), also known as Giambattista (or Gianbattista) Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an import ...

from 1739 to 1749. The stuccoes are by the Swiss decorator

Abbondio Stazio Abbondio is the name of: People * Abbondio Marcelli (1932–2015), Italian rower * Abbondio Sangiorgio (1798–1879), Italian sculptor * Abbondio Smerghetto (1931–2018), Italian rower * Abundius, saint Places * Sant'Abbondio, former municipality ...

(1740), gilded by Carpoforo Mazzeti from 1742 to 1743. In the hall there is an altar dedicated to the Virgin with a statue of the Madonna and Child offering the scapular; it dates from the 17th century and is by Bernardo Falconi. Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare.jpg, The capitular hall Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Madonna del carmelo di Bernardo Falconi.jpg, Madonna del carmelo by Bernardo Falconi * ''Penance, humility, truth'': Penance (dark-skinned woman holding a wooden cross in prayer); Humility (teenager dressed in white with a lamb treading sceptres and wreaths); The Truth (woman turned back holding a sieve). * ''Theological virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity'': Faith (woman dressed in white, holding a cross and a chalice), Hope (Woman in a green coat holding an anchor), Charity (Mother with two child with a flame above of the head). * ''Angel with lilies and putto with scapulars'': A putto brandied two scapulars, an angel in the center holds a bouquet of lilies (symbol of chastity), two seraphim below kiss. * ''The Virgin in glory hands Saint

Simon Stock Simon Stock, O.Carm was an English Catholic priest and saint who lived in the 13th century and was an early prior of the Carmelite order. The Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionally said to have appeared to him and given him the Carmelite habit, t ...

the scapular:'' This was the last central picture to have been put in place in 1749. * ''Courage and Justice'': Courage (woman leaning against a column with a lion); Justice (woman crowned with thorn a sword in hand, surmounted by a dove). * ''Prudence, purity and temperance'': Prudence (woman with a snake wrapped around her arm and a mirror in her hand, eyes raised); Purity (young girl with raised hair, eyelids lowered); Temperance (woman pouring the liquid drawn at the source). Bordering on both sides the central table. * ''An angel who saves a boy who falls from a scaffolding'' * ''An angel dressed in red offers the scapular to the faithful'' At the top and bottom of the central table * '' Angel with lilies and putto with scapulars'': A putto brandied two scapulars, an angel in the center holds a bouquet of lilies (symbol of chastity), two seraphim below kiss. * ''The angel of indulgences'' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Penitenza, umiltà, verità - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, '' Penance, humility, truth '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Virtù teologali - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, '' Theological virtues; Faith, Hope, Charity '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Madonna del carmelo che dà lo scapolare a san Simone Stock - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, '' The Virgin in glory hands Saint

the scapular '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Coraggio e giustizia - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, '' Courage and Justice '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Prudenza, purezza e temperanza - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, '' Prudence, purity and temperance'' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - L'angelo che salva un ragazzo che cade da un'impalcatura - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, ''The angel who saves a boy who falls from a scaffolding'' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - L'angelo vestito di rosso indossa lo scapolare per i fedeli - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, ''The angel dressed in red wears the scapular for the faithful'' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Angelo con gigli e Putto con scapolare - Giambattista Tiepolo.jpg, ''Angel with lilies and putto with scapulars '' Giovan battista tiepolo, angeli delle indulgenze, 1739-44, 01.jpg, ''The angel of indulgences'' ;The walls : The wall opposite the altar shows two paintings of the painter Amedeo Enz set up in 1679: ''The Pope

Paul V Pope Paul V ( la, Paulus V; it, Paolo V) (17 September 1550 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death in January 1621. In 1611, he honored ...

receives the Spanish Ambassador'' and '' The Pope

John XXII Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...

receive the scapular '' : The wall opposite the entrance: Three miracles attributed to Our Lady of the Word Carmel by

Antonio Zanchi Antonio Zanchi (; 6 December 1631 – 12 April 1722) was an Italians, Italian painter of the Baroque, active mainly in Venice, but his prolific works can also be seen in Padova, Treviso, Rovigo, Verona, Vicenza, Loreto, Brescia, Milano, and ...

; The miracle of the well, a girl is saved after spending eight days in a well;'' The wound of the Prince of Salmone '', the prince wounded in the thigh in a tournament is miraculously healed. : The wall of the grand staircase: two paintings by

Gregorio Lazzarini Gregorio Lazzarini (1657 – 10 November 1730) was an Italian painter of mythological, religious and historical subjects, as well as portraits. One of the most successful Venetian artists of the day, a prominent teacher, and father to a signific ...

'' Angels invite the banks to worship the child Jesus, '' and '' The Adoration of the Magi '' of 1704. A painting by Sante Piatti of 1733 '' The Glory of the Angels ''. Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Il Papa Paolo V riceve l'ambasciatore di Spagna - Amedeo Enz.jpg, ''The Pope

receives the Spanish Ambassador'' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Papa Giovanni XXII riceve lo scapolare - Amedeo Enz.jpg, '' The Pope

receives the scapular '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - Il miracolo del pozzo di Antonio Zanchi.jpg, The miracle of the well by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - La ferita del principe di Sulmona di Antonio Zanchi.jpg, ''The wound of the prince of Sulmona'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Venice) - Sala capitolare - L'adorazione dei Magi 1704 - Gregorio Lazzarini.jpg, '' The Adoration of the Magi '' by

Sala dell'Albergo

So called because we welcomed pilgrims and the poor. Nowadays, it is reserved for meetings of the Chancellery and members of Scuola. The wall coverings are carved walnut and the pavement is made of polychrome marbles. ;The ceiling : The wooden ceiling was decorated by Francesco Lucchini and Alessandro Orlandi in 1740. In the center the 'Assumption' by

Alessandro Varotari Alessandro Leone Varotari (4 April 1588 – 20 July 1649), also commonly known as Il Padovanino, was an Italian painter of the late-Mannerist and early- Baroque Venetian school, best known for having mentored Pietro Liberi, Giulio Carpioni, and ...

says the Padovanino (1588- 1648). This oil on canvas work was originally in the chapter house and was moved to make room for Tiepolo's paintings. All around the paintings of Giustino Menescardi after a drawing by Gaetono Zompini. Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo.jpg, Sala dell'Albergo Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - L'assunzione di Alessandro Varotari.jpg, ''Assumption'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Soffitto - San Giovanni di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, St. John by Giustino Menescardi Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Soffitto - San Lucca di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, St. Luke by Giustino Menescardi ; The walls :On the wall between the two windows, two canvases by Giustino Menescardi: "The Madonna with scapulars" and "The allegory of Venice in Doge's clothes kneeling before the Virgin". :On the wall adjacent to the chapter room: '' The Dream of Joseph '' and '' The Rest of the Holy Family in Egypt '' by

Antonio Balestra Antonio Balestra (12 August 1666 – 21 April 1740) was an Italian painter of the Rococo period. Biography Born in Verona, he first apprenticed there with Giovanni Zeffio. By 1690 he moved to Venice, where he worked for three years under Ant ...

. :On the wall adjacent to the archives: ''The Virgin gives the scapular to Saint Albert'' of Sicily by an anonymous author of the 17th century and ''Adoration of the shepherds'' by Ambrogio Bon (1697). Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Allegoria di Venezia nell'abito del doge davanti alla Vergine Maria di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, '' The allegory of Venice in Doge's clothes kneeling before the Virgin '' Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Il sogno di Giuseppe di Antonio Balestra.jpg, '' The Dream of Joseph '' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Il resto della santa famiglia in Egitto di Antonio Balestra.jpg, ''The rest of the Holy Family in Egypt'' by Antonio Balestra Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - La Vergine presenta lo scapolare a S. Alberto di Sicilia.jpg, Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Albergo - Adorazione dei pastori di Ambrogio Bon.jpg, ''Adoration of the shepherds'' by Ambrogio Bon

The rooms of the archive

The rooms of the archive contain ceiling and wall paintings by Giustino Menescardi with elaborate woodwork, specially caryatids by Giacomo Piazzetta father of the painter

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (also called Giambattista Piazzetta or Giambattista Valentino Piazzetta) (February 13, 1682 or 1683 – April 28, 1754) was an Italian Rococo painter of religious subjects and genre scenes. Biography Piazzetta was ...

.; the iconography of the paintings was organized by Gaetano Zompini. Among Menescardi's paintings are ''Martyrdom of Brothers Maccabe'' and ''Abigail placates David's designs against her husband Nabal''. The ceiling depicts a ''Virgin appears to Elias atop Mount Carmel''. In the antechamber a painting by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta Judithe and Holofernes from 1745. On the wall in front of the file cabinet is a large painting by Gaetano Zompini: ''Esther faints before

Ahasuerus Ahasuerus ( ; , commonly ''Achashverosh'';; fa, اخشورش, Axšoreš; fa, label=New Persian, خشایار, Xašāyār; grc, Ξέρξης, Xérxēs. grc, label=Koine Greek, Ἀσουήρος, Asouḗros, in the Septuagint; la, Assuerus ...

''. On the wall facing the windows a two-part paintings by Giustino Menescardi: '' The Martyrdom of the Maccabees and St. Salome ''. On the wall of the cabinet of the Archives two paintings. '' Abigail soothes and disarms David indignant against his husband Nabal '' by Giustino Menescardi and '' Rebecca at the Well '' by Gaetano Zompini. Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio.jpg, Rooms of the archive Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - La Vergine appare al profeta Elia sul monte Carmelo - Giustino Menescardi.jpg, ''Virgin appears to Elias atop Mount Carmel'' Giustino Menescardi Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Giuditta e oloferne - Giambattista piazzetta 1748.jpg, ''Judith and Holofernese'' by

Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Ester sviene prima di Assuero - Gaetano Zompini.jpg, ''Ester faints before Ahasuerus'' by Gaetano Zompini Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Il martirio dei Maccabei di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, ''The Martyrdom of the Maccabees''Giustino Menescardi Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Il martirio dei Maccabei e di Santa Salome di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, '' The Martyrdom of the Maccabees and St. Salome '' Giustino Menescardi Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Abigail calma e disarma David indignato contro suo marito Nabal di Giustino Menescardi.jpg, ''Abigail soothes and disarms David indignant against his husband Nabal by Giustino Menescardi'' Giustino Menescardi Scuola Grande dei Carmini - Sala dell'Archivio - Rebecca al pozzo di Gaetano Zompini.jpg, ''Rebecca at the Well'' par Gaetano Zompini

External links

*�
Official Scuola Grande dei Carmini website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scuola Grande dei Carmini Scuole Grandi of Venice Dorsoduro Schools in Italy