The Monks' Choir
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The Monks' Choir in Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is the only example of its kind in Venice to have survived in its original place.
The choir stalls (1462-68) were created by Marco Cozzi di Gianpietro da Vicenza and his workshop. The stalls conform to the Zellentyp, in which the seats are composed of separate compartments. There are a total of 124 seats, which are arranged in three tiers. Above the level of the arm rests, the rear wall is divided into two rows of panels. The upper panels contain half length figures of Christ, the Madonna and saints, while the lower panels contain architectural views realised in intarsia. The marble septo (choir screen) was added in 1475 and is attributed to Pietro Lombardo and his workshop. It is made up of a series of panels which contain images of Old Testament prophets and patriarchs. Beneath the two ambos are images of the four Doctors of the Church. The septo was added while Giacomo Morosini was Procurator of the Frari and one of the panels contains his portrait, with the inscription: SOLI DEO HONOR ET GLORIA. The septo is crowned with statues of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony and eight apostles, thought to be the work of Vittore Gambello, also known as Camelio (c. 1460-1537). Camelio is also thought to be responsible for the statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, which stand on the central arch. The wooden Crucifix has been ascribed to Andrea del Verrocchio. |
Septo or choir screen
Choir stalls
Choir screen, Giacomo Morosini
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