San Rocco, Venice Explained

Building Name:Church of Saint Roch
Chiesa di San Rocco
Location:Venice, Italy
Coordinates:45.437°N 12.3253°W
Map Type:Venezia#Italy
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Consecration Year:1508
Functional Status:Active
Architecture:yes
Architect:Bartolomeo Bon
Architecture Type:Church
Architecture Style:Renaissance
Groundbreaking:1489
Year Completed:1771
Specifications:yes
Length:40m (130feet)
Width:20m (70feet)

The Church of Saint Roch (Italian: Chiesa di San Rocco) is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Roch in Venice, northern Italy. It was built between 1489 and 1508 by Bartolomeo Bon the Younger, but was substantially altered in 1725. The façade dates from 1765 to 1771,[1] and was designed by Bernardino Maccarucci. The church is one of the Plague-churches built in Venice.[2]

St. Roch, whose relics rest in the church after their transfer from Voghera (trad. Montpellier), was declared a patron saint of the city in 1576. Every year, on his feast day (16 August), the Doge made a pilgrimage to the church.

Near the church is the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, noted for its numerous Tintoretto paintings. It was founded in the 15th century as a confraternity to assist the citizens in time of plague.

Description

Exterior

The facade is decorated within years years 1765–1769 in collaboration with major Venetian sculptors of its time. On the semicircular tympanum stands the statue of Saint Roch by Giuseppe Bernardi. On the sides are statues of Saint Gerolamo Emiliani and Blessed Pietro Acotanto. In the second register is a relief of Saint Roch healing the plague stricken by Giovanni Morlaiter. In the niches on the sides are statues of Saints Lorenzo Giustiniani and Gregorio Barbarigo by Antonio Gai. In the first register flanking the main entrance are Saints Gerardo Sagredo and Pietro Orseolo by Giovanni Marchiori. The main portal has a bronze copy relief of the Glory of Saint Roch by Malchiori. The marble original is inside the church.

Interior

The church interior is notable for its Tintoretto paintings including:

Also present are a monument to Pellegrino Baselli Grillo (1517) and a statue of St. Roch by Bartolomeo Bon.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Allen, Grant. Venice. G. Richards. London. 1898. 107–112. 0-665-05089-5.
  2. Avery . Harold . Plague churches, monuments and memorials . Proc. R. Soc. Med. . 59 . 2 . 110–116 . February 1966 . 5906745 . 1900794 .