BASILICA SAN MARCO IN VENEZIA

WIENER, Jacques: Italy, 1850, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: View of exterior of cathedral
Exergue: BASILICA DE S. MARCO IN VENEZIA. GIA CAPPELLA DUCALE. ORA CATTEDRALE. COSTRUTTA 826. INCENDIATA 976. RICOSTRUITA 977. CONTINUATA 1043 COMPITA 1071.   J. WIENER. F.   BUCHHANDLUNG VON H. F. MUNSTER. VENEDIG. VERONA U: TRIEST.
Rev: View of interior
Signed: J. WIENER BRUXELLES
Ref: Van Hoydonck 65;  Europese Penningen # 75, 12, IVc

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, was begun about 826 as a small wooden church to enshrine the remains of the city's patron saint, St. Mark, brought from Alexandria. It was restored after a fire in 976. It was later demolished and rebuilt in the 11th century in the Byzantine style. Originally the private chapel of the doge, it is unique in respect to its richness of material and decoration. It was graced with the spoils of countless other regions as there was a law of the republic requiring every merchant trading to the east to bring back some material for its adornment. In plan, St. Mark's is a Greek cross of equal arms, covered by a dome in the center and by a dome over each of the arms. The plan is derived from the Church of the Holy Apostles at Istanbul, now covered by the mosque of Mohammed II. The exterior facade is enriched with marble columns. The top forms a wide gallery, in the center of which stand the four colossal bronze horses which belonged to a Greco-Roman triumphal quadriga.

LINK to painting The Square of Saint Mark's, Venice by Canaletto (from National Gallery of Art)

HOME PAGE