SCARPAGNINO - b. ~1465 Grosio, d. 1549 Venezia - WGA

SCARPAGNINO

(b. ~1465 Grosio, d. 1549 Venezia)

Antonio di Pietro Abbondi, known as Scarpagnino, Italian architect. He was active in Venice from October 1505, when he was appointed as a mason by the Salt Office (in effect the Venetian Board of Works). His first assignment was to take over the rebuilding of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (which had been damaged by fire) from Giorgio Spavento; his work there does not seem, however, to have had a substantial influence on the appearance of the structure, which was inspired by Fra Giaconolo. In 1507 he was apparently involved in building San Sebastiano and Santo Spirito on the Giudecca. He restored the Rialto Bridge, already restored by Giorgio Spavento.

After a fire destroyed many buildings in the Rialto on 10 January 1514, he played a role in the reconstruction, competing with Alessandro Leopardi, Giovanni Celeste, and Fra Giovanni Giocondo. The most important building that burned was the church of San Giovanni Elemosinario. The reconstruction of the entire area was then entrusted to the Scarpagnino, who also designed the reconstruction of the church in Renaissance style. The reconstruction of the church was completed around 1531 and it was soon adorned with works by the greatest artists of the period, such as Titian, Palma Giovane, and Pordenone. In addition to the church, an important part of the project was the Palazzo dei Dieci Savi, intended to be the seat of one of the most important magistrates of Venice.

In 1520 Scarpagnino and Francesco Lurano finished the restoration of the Ponte Pietra in Verona. From 1527 Scarpagnino was among the members of the Confraternity of the Scuola Grande di San Marco in Venice, for which he executed the model for the high altar of the Sala Superiore.

In 1534 he worked at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, for which he designed the new staircase. He worked at the Palazzo Contarini delle Figure, then to the design and construction of the Church of Santa Maria Zobenigo. He also worked at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice.

His son Marco was a stonemason with whom he often collaborated.

Palazzo Contarini delle Figure: Façade

This palace at the Canal Grande takes its name from the two figures under the principal balcony. It belonged to Jacopo Contarini, an attorney of the Venetian republic, which assigned him wit the task of reorganizing the program for the painting of the hall of the Higher Council and within the Palazzo Ducale.

The palace was rebuilt between 1505 and 1546 according to a design by Scarpagnino. The perfect vertical and horizontal three-part arrangement of the fa�ade organises architectural features of the period. A noteworthy feature is the triangular tympanum which highlights the Corinthian four-mullioned window with channeled columns.

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Palazzo Contarini delle Figure: Façade

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San Sebastiano: Façade

The sixteenth-century church replaced a building from the previous century. The plain exterior fails to suggest the rich paintings inside or even the architecturally interesting interior. Veronese painted a number of important works in this church.

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Scuola Grande di San Rocco: Façade

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is the best preserved, as regards the architecture and fittings, of Venice’s six Scuole Grandi (Major Guilds) which for many centuries, together with the minor Confraternities, formed the thick network of brotherhoods of a religious nature. These were set up to help the poor and the sick, or to protect the interests of individual professions, or to help the weak and needy members of non-Venetian communities living in the city.

The guild dedicated to San Rocco of Montpellier who died in Piacenza in 1327 and whose remains are thought to have been brought to Venice in 1485, was legally recognized in 1478. Its aim was to relieve the suffering of the sick, especially those stricken by the epidemics.

The present building of the Scuola was begun in 1517 by Bartolomeo Bon who designed it and supervised the work until 1524. In 1524 his work was continued by Sante Lombardo, who, in turn, three years later was replaced by Scarpagnino. Following his death in 1549, the last architect giving the final touches to the building was Giovanni Giacomo de’ Grigi, finishing in September 1560.

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