Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/82

* VENICE. Venetians, extends easterly some distance, lined by hotels, shoj5s, etc., on one side, and the water on the other. Not far to the northeast of the cathedral is Santa Maria Formosa, famous for Palma Vecchio's masterpiece, " Saint Barbara " — an altar picture. The district abounds in palaces. Still farther north, near the lagoon and adjacent to the excellent municipal hospital, is the large and splendid Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, of the fourteenth century, a domed and columned structure in Italian Gothic. It is one of the principal attractions of Venice. It was the funeral church of the doges, and holds a number of their imposing tombs. Some of these monuments are rare examples, the finest perhaps in the city being that of A. Vendramin. Northeast is the Scuola di San Jlarco, now a hospital, a fine structure of the best Venetian period. In the vicinity stands the lofty and splendid bronze equestrian statue of Bar- tolommeo C'olleoni. This monument, by Andrea Verroccbio, shares with that of Gattamelata, in Padua, by Donatello. the honor of being unsur- passed in the world. To the east, toward the arsenal, is the San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, with the Carpaecio paintings, which are elaborately described by Ruskin. In this eastern arm of Venice are the arsenal and the public gardens, the former dating from the beginning of the twelfth century. The arsenal, long the finest in the world, employs 0000 men, and has been extended and largely improved. Its museum is interesting for a model of the system of piling on which the city stands and for the model and slight remains of the famous Bucintoro — the sumptuous craft of state from which the Doge on Ascension day cast the ring into the waters, in the act of wedding the city to the sea. The public gardens are small but attractive. Ad- jacent is the Church of San Pietro di Castello, which was the Cathedral of Venice until 1807. Hence islands extend eastward in the direction of the fashionable sea resort of the Lido, one of the finest beaches in the world. Following the course of the Grand Canal (q.v.) from the Royal Garden by the Piazzetta to the railway station, there may first be noted the imposing Church of Santa Maria della Salute, begun in 1631. It rises into a dome, with rich adornments, and contains good works by Titian. The adjacent Seminario Patriarcale includes in its small art collection one of the two (putative) Ciiorgiones left in Venice. Farther on comes the renowned Academy of Fine Arts. It presents a series of Venetian canvases from the earliest down to those of Tiepolo. The great masters of color arc here seen to good advantage. Bellini is represented by his "Madonna of the Trees;" Titian by his masterpiece the "Assmuption of the Virgin." and the "Presentation in the Temple;" Paul Veronese, with the "Supper in the House of Levi;" Tintoretto, with his "Miracle of Saint Mark;" Paris P.iirdone, with his "Fisherman and the Doge;" and Carpaecio. with his remarkable scries of "Scenes from the Story of Saint Ursula and Her Virgins." The Palazzo Rezzonico, with colunnied balconies, where Browning died; the Palazzo Mocenigo, where Byron lived; the splen- did Palazzo Grimani. a Renaissance structure by Sammichcli ; tlie Palazzo Loredan. whose praises were sung by Ruskin — arc noted along the canal before reaching the celebrated Rialto Bridge. 56 VENICE. The Rialto (q.v.) is lined with shops, and is a. scene of busy interest. The district is identified as the original site of the city. Beyond, con- tinuing the course of the Grand Canal, are seen the markets, the celebrated Ca' d'Oro; the Ven- dramin Palace, with an imposing facade, where AVagner died ; and the Fondaco de' Turchi op- posite, with the' Jlunicipal JIuseum, which con- tains specimens of the art industries of Venice, antiquities, some good pictures, etc. Diagonally opposite the railway station is the small but pleasant Papadopoli garden. In the region to the north are found the old and new ghetto, the Church of the JIadonna dell' Orto, with admir- able pictures: and the baroque Jesuit Church, containing Titian's "Martyrdom of Saint Law- rence." The district of the Merceria — the principal shopping street, and connecting the Piazza of Saint JIark with the Rialto — is full of interest. To the north is the Renaissance Church of San Giovanni Crisostomo containing good altar-pieces by Bellini and Sebastiano del Piombo. To the southwest of the Merceria are the famous the- atres, the classic Fenice, the Rossini, the Goldoni — the first seating 3000 persons, but open only between Christmas and Lent; and the fine domed Church of San Salvatore, finished in 1534 and containing Titian's "Annunciation." Directly west of the Piazza of Saint Mark's is the Calle San Moisfe, a livel.y shopping street. In the large section of the city south and west of aiul beyond the edifices bordering the Grand Canal, there may be mentioned the San Giovanni Elemosinario, with Titian's striking altar-piece of the same name, and the great and handsome Frari Church, one of the wonders of Venice. It is CJothic and was begun in 1330. It is noted especially for its fine altar-pieces, and for its monuments of many important personages, including Canova and Titian. The pictures in- clude Titian's renowned "iladonna of the Pesaro Family" and Bellini's charming "Madonna and Saints." The monastery of the Frari holds the Venetian archives — a very rare collection, with sever.al million documents, some dating from the close of the ninth century. Farther on is the at- tractive Scuola di San Rocco, dating from 1517, striking for its architecture and for its mural paintings by Tintoretto. His masterpiece, the "Crucifixion," is here. Some distance to the south is Santa Maria del Carmine, and southwest, near the Canal della. Giudecca, is San Sebastiano, notalile for altar- pieces by Paul Veronese, and for his tomb. To the southeast stretches the long and straight Fondamenta dclle Zattere. The Giudecca district opposite has the island of San Giorgio ^laggiore at its northeast end, o])posite the Doge's Palace. On this island is the fine domed church of the same name, a creation of Palladio in the middle of the sixteenth century. Its campanile affords one of the best views to be had in Venice. On the island of (he Givulccca is another noteworthy cliurch by Palhulin — the Redintore, of much interest to architects for special features. Inter- esting cxcin'sions can be made to the island en- virons of the city. Murano (q.v.) lies to the north, beyond the island of the cemetery. Tor- eello (q.v.) merits a visit. About two miles southeast of the city is the island of San.T.azzaro, the seat of an Armenian archbishopric and raon-