The Scuole of Venice: Piety and Patronage
The Venetian scuola (school) was not an educational establishment, but a confraternity of laymen, who came together to provide a broad range of social and charitable functions. Members of a scuola either practised the same craft or trade, came from the same ethnic group or shared a devotion to a particular saint. The scuole, which played a vital role in both the life and art of medieval and Renaissance Venice, were divided into two types: the scuole grandi and the scuole piccoli. While there were only seven scuole grandi*, there were more than two hundred scuole piccoli. While few of the confraternities still function, many of their buildings (some of the architectural glories of Venice) have survived.
First set up in the 13th century, the scuole looked after the spiritual and material welfare of its members (who were excluded from the government of the city). They also performed charitable works in the name of their patron saints. Each scuola had its own book of rules, the Mariegola, which outlined the duties of its members.
The scuole commissioned some of the leading artists of the day to commemorate the lives of their patron saints in large narrative canvases known as teleri. The teleri, many of which are major works of art, have left us with vivid portraits of life in Renaissance Venice.
*The scuole grandi:
First set up in the 13th century, the scuole looked after the spiritual and material welfare of its members (who were excluded from the government of the city). They also performed charitable works in the name of their patron saints. Each scuola had its own book of rules, the Mariegola, which outlined the duties of its members.
The scuole commissioned some of the leading artists of the day to commemorate the lives of their patron saints in large narrative canvases known as teleri. The teleri, many of which are major works of art, have left us with vivid portraits of life in Renaissance Venice.
*The scuole grandi:
