Santa maria della Salute, Venice Italy, 1687(Complete)

Name: Xiaoyu Zeng

ARCH161 – M21 LEC(2587)

Santa Maria della Salute, Venice Italy, 1687(Completed)

Church, Baroque

Architect(s): Baldassare Longhena

     

                       

[Introduction]

Santa Maria della Salute is one of the masterpiece of Baroque architecture in Venice. When the plague was raging at 1630, the government of the Republic has decided to build this church to the lady Maria. Architect Baldassare Longhena designed it which completed at 1687.

When you face the main altar of the Old Testament stories depicting Hallows interior murals “David and Goliath” which was at the ceiling painting. The artist is Titian Vecellio. Also, Tintoretto “Cana’s wedding” by are worthy of one of the best gifts of art appreciation.

              
                     Marriage at Cana, 1561 - Tintoretto

    

"David and Goliath", Titian, 1542-44

Frauenkirche has heraldic pediments which is overlapped the lower part of wall. Because the white church is in the entrance of the Grande Canale, it looks as the red tiles roof from the sea rises between the white waves.It also is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture in Venice. Under the huge dome of the church is octagonal, six churches around it.

Perhaps, Frauenkirche was falling the angel, is also an unique symbol of the decline of the city of Venice. Since 1797, Napoleon conquered the Republic of Venice, and spoke Italian loudly to declared:” I am the master of principality of Venice Attila!”

Then, this city was a vibrant civilization before. However, it was like a fallen angel in the world, lost its former glory.

In the history of Venice, “the plague” fiercely attacked the city two times. Once was in 1347, during the half a year, Venice lost 3/5 people. The second times was in 1630, the “Black Death” raided  the Lagoon area and Venice, was killing 45000 people (equal 1/3 of the population in Venice). After the outbreak of Plague in 1630, Venetian went to the virgin Maria for help, the Republic of Venice of Senate vowed: If Maria can rescued Venice from this catastrophe, it will be built specially for her church. The plague has passed, so the Senate decided in 1631 to fulfill his oath to begin to campaign for the new church architect. They also required this project should not too expensive and it can give a good impression. They also added “salute” to the name to this new church because they appreciated Maria made them to get rid of the plague. The young architect Baldassare Lungna won the election to design the church.

[Construction]

They spent 56 years to complete this new church after architect Lungna have died for five years (1687). The based of Frauenkirche is an octagon. It is a large dome of the Venetian-style on the top of the church. On the east side of the priest seats, it has a small dome. Between the both sides, it is the clock tower. According to the record, they used a 170 thousand stake to build the foundation of the church. During the period, architect Lungna also found some problem such as foundation collapse and wall support. In order to solve the stability problem, the architect invented the support of the dome of the strange spiral shape.

The interior of the church is not like the beautiful exterior of the church. However, if the door closes, this church will look different from when the door opens. As a result, Frauenkirche only open the door at the Health day which is in November 21^st each year to avoid and eliminate the plague. This day also is the only day that people can enter the church from the front gate. Believers will carry the candle, and then they cross the Grande Canale River Bridge to the church.

Plan

Section

Reference :
1. Andrew Hopkins, Santa Maria Della Salute: Architecture and Ceremony in Baroque Venice , Andrew Hopkins, Cambridge University Press (March 13, 2000), Print
2. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/7299