Santo Stefano Church

Santo Stefano is the third largest monastery church in Venice. Built by the Augustinian Hermits in the 13th century, it was re-structured a century later, and subsequent embellishments made it into one of the finest examples of Venetian Flamboyant Gothic architectures. On the fourteenth-century façade in brick, the superb marble portal is highly underlined, work by Bartolomeo Bon. The church was reconsecrated in 1374.

The sacristy contains a veritable museum with some of the great names in Venetian Renaissance art. On the side walls there is the 'Last Supper' (1579-80), 'The Risen' (1565 ca.), 'Christ Washing the Apostles Feet' (1579-80), and 'Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane' (1579-80) by Jacopo Tintoretto, works contemporaneously realized for Scuola di San Rocco, and a 'Sacred Family with Maria Maddalena and Saint Caterina' (1528-30) by Bonifacio De 'Pitati.

Of other significance there is 'Saint Nicola from Bari' and 'Saint Lorenzo' (1475 ca.) by Bartolomeo Vivarini which both place side by side to 'The Crucifixion' (1775 ca.) by Giuseppe Angeli; above there is the 'Martyrdom of Saint Stefano' (1630 ca. - 1638) by Sante Peranda.

On the opposite side you will find 'The Escape from Egypt', 'The Adoration of the Magicians', and the 'Massacre of the Innocents' (1733) by Gaspare Diziani.

In the sacristy there is also a museum of sculpturs where a fine sculptur of 'Saint Sebastiano' by Tullio Lombardo is found. Such as 'Saint Andrea' and 'Saint Girolamo' (1476-1480 ca.) by Pietro Lombardo and his assistants, and a beautiful sculpture by Antonio Canova; the 'Stele Funeraria del Senatore Giovanni Falier' (1808).

References:

• Chorus Venezia

Address

Campo Santo Stefano 2774, Venice, Italy

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Italy