Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
ADJUNCT MODULE B: ITALIAN ART
Preferred Title:
Monument to Doge Giovanni Pesaro
Image View:
Detail, lower tier, black 'Moors' in rare black and white marble with inset eyes, act as atlantes (telamons) supporting a heavy entablature, flanking the church door
Creator:
Baldassare Longhena (Italian sculptor, 1598-1682)
Location:
repository: Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Venice, Veneto, Italy)
Location Note:
Campo dei Frari
GPS:
45.436667 12.326111
Date:
1665-1669 (creation)
Cultural Context:
Italian
Style Period:
Baroque; Seventeenth century
Work Type 1:
sculpture (visual work)
Work Type 2:
monument
Work Type 3:
atlas (supporting element)
Classification:
Sculpture and Installations
Material:
marble; bronze
Technique:
carving (processes); construction (assembling)
Inscription:
Vixit Annos LXX (lived 70 years) - Devixit Year MDCLIX (died in 1659) - Hic revixit Year MDCLXIX (here renews in 1669)
Subjects:
allegory; death or burial; funerary art; rulers and leaders; Blacks in art; Venetian; Moors; Venice; Doge; telamons; atlantes
Description:
Giovanni Pesaro (1589-1659) was the 103rd Doge of Venice, reigning from his election in 1658 until his death. His monument, the size of a considerable church façade, was commissioned from Baldassare Longhena by the nephew Leonardo Pesaro. The sculptural decoration was carried out by Melchior Barthel and Josse De Corte, with Francesco Cavrioli, and Michele Fabris. De Corte and Barthel, through their stylistic similarities, represent the new Baroque style. Cavrioli, called on to work on the two bronze skeletons supporting the two scrolls, was presumably chosen in view of his specialization in this field. Michele Fabris was given the task of carving the two dragons, symbols of eternity. De Corte was responsible for the little angels holding up the Pesaro coat of arms, the statue of Giovanni Pesaro, and the four allegories of Intelligence, Nobility, Wealth, and Study, which allude to the exploits and merits of the doge. The figure of the doge and the four allegories are on a grand scale, similar to that of the four Moors which act as atlantes. The pairs of figures representing Religion with Constancy and Truth with Justice were executed by Melchior Barthel. (Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordart online.com/)
Collection:
Adjunct Module B: Italian Art
Identifier:
6A1-LBA-SMF-MDP-A02
Rights:
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.

Monument to Doge Giovanni Pesaro