Scuola Grande della Carità

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Founded in 1260, the Scuola Grande della Carita was the first scuola to receive the title grande. 

The scuola's meeting hall (Sala del Capitolo) was built in the 14th century. Its ornate and gilded ceiling was created by Marco Cozzi between 1461 and 1484. The ceiling was begun under the auspices of Ulisse Aliotto, who was at the time the Scuola's Guardian Grande. The hundreds of angels, all with eight wings (ali otto), which make up the major part of the decorative scheme, are a visual pun on Aliotto's name.

The small albergo was added in 1384 and enlarged to its present L-shape in the 1440s. It preserves its wooden benches and late fifteenth century ceiling. 

The interior of the scuola was altered in the eighteenth century when a new double staircase was built by Giorgio Massari. In 1760 the scuola's Gothic brick façade was replaced with a heavy stone façade, also the work of Massari.

The Scuola Grande della Carita was suppressed at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1807 the scuola and the adjacent church of Santa Maria della Carita became home to the Accademia  delle Belle Arti, an art academy established by Napoleonic decree. This grew out of an earlier academy, which had been founded in 1750 under the presidency of Giambattista Piazzetta. 

In 1879 the Gallerie dell'Accademia was founded. 

Santa Maria della Carita and the Scuola Grande della Carita

Wooden ceiling by Marco Cozzi