The bronze crucifix over the entryway to the choir is by the great Florentine sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio. His works are rare in Venice. Their presence indicates the great respect the Venetians had for him. Native-born artists working in Venice were held to be the most important artists of their day. For an outsider to gain the Venetians' respect was somewhat unusual. However the presence of artworks by outside artists could also indicate the wishes of a wealthy patron. Venetians were rarely against such artistic incursions when someone other than themselves i.e. a patron, paid for them. A marble choir screen surrounds the choir. It was the collaboration two Venetian sculptors. In 1475, Pietro Lombardo and Bartolomeo Bon designed and carved the screen. Its solid walls are 15 feet high, 45 feet wide, and 52 feet long.
Bartolomeo Bon
b. 1450 - d. 1529
He was known as Bon the Younger. His father and grandfather were both sculptor/architects firmly established in Venice. Bartolomeo the Younger was, like his father, an admirer of Pietro Lombardo. The father and son worked together on the marble choir screen at the church of the Frari. Bartolomeo also designed the Scuola Grande of San Rocco and its church, but both were altered.
Pietro Lombardo
b. as Pietro Solari 1435 - d. 1515
Lombardo was a sculptor and architect who came to Venice from Lombardy, the region around Milan. He and his workshop, which included his sons Tullio and Antonio, produced many fine tombs for Venetian churches. Pietro designed the elegant Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Scuola Grande de San Marco, next to Giovanni e Paolo church. His workshop, including his sons, carved the extensive surface decoration on the Renaissance courtyard facade of the Ducal Palace. He designed the courtyard screen for the Scuola of San Giovanni Evangelista, and the Palazzo Vendramin (1500-1509).
Andrea Del Verrochio
b. Florence 1435 - d. Venice 1488
He was a sculptor, painter, and goldsmith. He was the leading sculptor in Florence in the second half of the 15th century. He also painted altarpieces. Leonardo da Vinci was his pupil. Verocchio's sculptures were made in many media: bronze, marble, silver, and wood. His patrons included the Medici family of Florence and the republic of Venice.
Bartolomeo Bon
b. 1450 - d. 1529
He was known as Bon the Younger. His father and grandfather were both sculptor/architects firmly established in Venice. Bartolomeo the Younger was, like his father, an admirer of Pietro Lombardo. The father and son worked together on the marble choir screen at the church of the Frari. Bartolomeo also designed the Scuola Grande of San Rocco and its church, but both were altered.
Pietro Lombardo
b. as Pietro Solari 1435 - d. 1515
Lombardo was a sculptor and architect who came to Venice from Lombardy, the region around Milan. He and his workshop, which included his sons Tullio and Antonio, produced many fine tombs for Venetian churches. Pietro designed the elegant Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the Scuola Grande de San Marco, next to Giovanni e Paolo church. His workshop, including his sons, carved the extensive surface decoration on the Renaissance courtyard facade of the Ducal Palace. He designed the courtyard screen for the Scuola of San Giovanni Evangelista, and the Palazzo Vendramin (1500-1509).
Andrea Del Verrochio
b. Florence 1435 - d. Venice 1488
He was a sculptor, painter, and goldsmith. He was the leading sculptor in Florence in the second half of the 15th century. He also painted altarpieces. Leonardo da Vinci was his pupil. Verocchio's sculptures were made in many media: bronze, marble, silver, and wood. His patrons included the Medici family of Florence and the republic of Venice.
|
1) Map of Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari - Venice, Italy [37]
