Isola Di San Giorgio, Venice, Italy III
by Al Bourassa
Title
Isola Di San Giorgio, Venice, Italy III
Artist
Al Bourassa
Medium
Photograph - Photographic Artworks
Description
The wonderful basilica and monastery dedicated to St George sits on the island overlooking the Basin of San Marco. This stretch of water is busily traversed by large boats and ships entering and leaving the commercial Port of Venice.
The island was donated to form a Benedictine Monastery in 982AD. The first church to be dedicated to St George was built a little later and this was eventually replaced in 1565 by the present building. The architect was Andrea Palladio, a famous Venetian architect at that time. He began the building in 1566 but the façade was finished after his death by Vincenzo Scamozzi in 1610. The tall bell tower which you see today was built much later, in 1791. From the top it offers unrivalled panoramic views across the lagoon to most of Venice.
Stepping off the water taxi, the steps leading up to the columned façade are most impressive. Statues of St George and St Stephen watch over the doorway. Inside the Basilica are many priceless paintings by such great artists as Tintoretto, Sebastiano Ricci and Jacopo Bassano. The nave and transept are quite impressive, along with the beautiful dome and apses.
The monastery also houses many incredible works of art. It has some traditional cloisters and a refectory by Andrea Palladio which is still in use today. The monastery has a fine library with books dating back to the 16th century. On the façade of the Dormitory building, you will see a beautiful bas-relief depicting St George slaying the Dragon.
The Basilica still operates as a Catholic church, managed by the Benedictine monks.
This digitally altered artwork is derived from a photograph taken on a drizzly March 5, 2009 during a tour of Western Europe.
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Uploaded
September 17th, 2015
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Viewed 306 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/29/2024 at 1:33 AM
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Comments (9)
Al Bourassa
THANK YOU to Lenore Senior for the kind FEATURE of this artwork in the group OLD MASTERS- PHOTOGRAPHY
Kellice Swaggerty
Truly splendid, Al! And the vignette certainly enhances an already well-composed, beautiful image! L/F G+