Bartolomeo Bon’s Virgin and Child with Kneeling Members of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia Flashcards
Q: Who was Bartolomeo Bon, and what were his key contributions?
A: Bon was a leading sculptor of his time, working with his father Giovanni on major commissions like the Porta della Carta and the Ca’ d’Oro. He was also a member of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia.
name and date
Bartolomeo bon’s tympanum : Virgin and Child with kneeling members of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia
c. 1445-1450
Q: What is the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, and what role did it play in Venice?
A: A confraternity focused on charitable acts, offering support to members in need.they met and prayed together. It symbolized civic unity and religious devotion.
-members paid a fee and the scuola grande would look after them if they hit hard times
the building of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia in Venice was the meeting house for the confraternity of Santa Maria della Misericordia.
Q: Why were Scuole Grande significant in Venetian society?
A: They provided a sense of self-determination for members, even after the Serrata of 1297 meant that no more families could achieve noble status to sit on the Grand Council of the Republic.
it reinforced civic pride, and showcased Venice as a harmonious society.
This helped enforce the myth of Venice as La Serenissima, where everyone was happy.
what was the serrata
the Serrata of 1297 meant that no more families could achieve noble status to sit on the Grand Council of the Republic.
how many scuola grndes were there in total in venice AND how was this one the most important
7
*This Scuola della Misericordia was one of the oldest in the city, founded in the 13th century. By the early 15th century it was very well established, with around 1,500 members and had a large meeting house, originally built in 1310 and extended regularly.
when was the origional meeting house built AND where was it located
built in 1310
. It was located in a sparsely populated area of the city, in Cannaregio, on the northern edge of Venice. (needed regular repairs as exposed to winds of the lagoon, which is when tympaneum was commissioned)
where was the sculpture moved later on
*The sculpture was later moved to the Scuola Nuova (new building) which was built at the beginning of the 16th century (begun 1505).
Q: Where was this sculpture originally displayed (and where was it origionally carved for?)
A: It was installed in the tympanum (the space between the lintel and arch) above the main doorway of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia’s meeting house.
Q: What does the placement of the sculpture in the tympanum symbolize?
A: Passing beneath the Virgin’s protective mantle emphasized spiritual protection and confraternity unity.
Q: Describe the central figures in the relief.
A: The Virgin stands wearing a mantle with a medallion containing the Christ Child, a Byzantine-influenced platytera figure.
how is the virgin depicted
*The Virgin is represented standing in full face, wearing a mantle fastened on her breast by an almond-shaped medallion (mandorla) which contains the naked figure of the Christ Child with his hand raised in blessing
This is a ‘type’ of Virgin and Child known in Byzantine images as the platytera. quotes Byzantine idioms because of their particular historical and economic links with the East.
*The Virgin would have worn a metal crown which has since been lost.
-virgin holds her mantle open with both hands
what was the sculpture origionally flanked with
*This sculpture was originally flanked with representations of the allegorical figures of Hope and Charity. A figure of Faith would have stood at the top of the tympanum presiding over the whole composition.
Q: What is the significance of the Madonna della Misericordia?
A: It depicts the Virgin sheltering worshippers under her cloak, symbolizing mercy and protection.
Q: What does the Tree of Jesse in the background represent?
A: It symbolizes Christ’s genealogy, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, and emphasizes the divine lineage.
It is common in medieval iconography.
Q: Who are the kneeling figures under the Virgin’s mantle?
A:
Beneath her mantle are nine kneeling members of the Scuola of Santa Maria della Misericordia in positions of prayer, four on the right and five on the left.
what is a depiction of the virgin sheltering worshippers with her cloak also known as
- is known as the Madonna della Misericordia (Madonna of Mercy)
Q: How does this relief connect to Venetian identity?
A: The Virgin, joint patron saint of Venice, reinforces the city’s divine favor and protection.
Q: How did the Scuole reflect Venetian civic life?
A: They combined religious devotion and civic duty, uniting middle and lower classes in acts of charity and participation in public processions.
Q: What material was used for this relief, and why was it chosen?
A: Istrian stone, prized for its whiteness, was used as a base for polychrome decoration and gilding.
Q: How was polychrome decoration applied?
A: Layers of oil, glaze, and pigments like azurite and lapis lazuli were used, with gilding on details like Christ’s halo and the Virgin’s robe.
what was the origional colour of the background and what was there evidence of around the virgins mantle
*The background to the Tree of Jesse was blue, made up from azurite mixed with iron oxide and applied over a white lead base.
*There is evidence of lapis lazuli pigments around the mantel of the Virgin.
Q: What evidence remains of the original decorative scheme?
A: Traces of gilding, pigments, and etched patterns, including motifs like pseudo-Kufic script, are visible.
how was it origionally decorated
*An extensive restoration of the work has revealed that the whole piece would have been richly and colourfully decorated with polychrome paintwork and gilding. .
How does Byzantine art influence this sculpture?
A: The Virgin and Child’s composition reflects Byzantine traditions, highlighting Venice’s historical and economic links to the East.
This is a ‘type’ of Virgin and Child known in Byzantine images as the platytera. they quoting Byzantine idioms because of their particular historical and economic links with the East.
-rich polychrome and gilding decor prominent in Venice, of which was very largly connected to eastern art
Q: What role did patronage play in this commission?
A: The Scuola Grande della Misericordia, as patrons, used the relief to display their wealth, devotion, and social status.
Q: How does the Renaissance context influence the piece?
A: The relief integrates medieval iconography with Renaissance interest in naturalism and civic pride.
Q: What did the restoration reveal about the original appearance?
A: The entire sculpture was richly painted and gilded, with vibrant blues, greens, and gold emphasizing its divine and civic significance.
Q: Why was gilding used on the Virgin’s robe and the Tree of Jesse?
A: To create visual depth, highlight divine elements, and emphasize the Scuola’s wealth and dedication.
Q: What was the role of confraternities in Venice’s class structure?
A: They allowed middle and lower-class citizens to participate in civic life despite being excluded from government.
how is humanism shown
depiction of the members (not religious figures)
how is civic pride shown
Venice was believed to have been founded on the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March and subsequently the Virgin was joint patron saint of the city with Saint Mark.
whats in the branches of the fig tree
*In the branches of the fig tree which forms the background are six busts of kings and prophets holding scrolls. These scrolls announce the Coming of Christ.
where is this sculpture now displayed
*Bon’s sculpture is now displayed in the Renaissance Galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum, well above head height so that the viewer can appreciate the effect of passing beneath the protective mantle of the Virgin, as the Scuola’s members would have done
critical quote
John Charles Robinson described preserved works like this in the V&A as ‘intrinsically a work of high merit and importance, but it had infinitely greater significance in its original place. It is indeed a page torn from the record of Venetian art’
how were scuola grande’s linked to politics
their processions often included the Doge and members of the Venetian patriciate (government)
position in grid
religious sculpture, venice
