San Sebastiano
Open: Mon-Sat: 10-17. €3.
Map
Map
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San Sebastiano is often referred to as Veronese's church. It was here that the young artist made his reputation shortly after he had moved to Venice from his native Verona, and it was here that he was buried when he died in 1588.
The church was originally built in the second half of the 15th century, following an outbreak of the plague in 1464. It was dedicated to St Sebastian, a saint regularly invoked at such times. San Sebastiano was rebuilt in the classical style between 1505 and 1548 by the architect Antonio Abbondi, better known as Lo Scarpagnino. The nave, which is preceded by an atrium, is flanked by six side chapels, three on each side. Of particular interest is the friars' barco (choir gallery) above the vestibule, which extends into the nave to create a U-shaped space. Paolo Cagliari (1528-68) was from the city of Verona, hence the name Veronese. The young artist first began work in the sacristy, where he painted the ceiling panels of The Coronation of the Virgin and The Four Evangelists (1555). A year later he began work in the main body of the church with ceiling paintings illustrating scenes from The Story of Esther (1556). During the course of the next eight years he went on to paint scenes from the life of Saint Sebastian in the barco and the chancel. Veronese and his brother Benedetto are both buried in the pavement tomb at the entrance to the Lando Chapel. The master is commemorated on the wall beside the organ by a 17th century bust . |
San Sebastiano
Interior of San Sebastiano
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