The Sala dello Scrutinio with many large historical paintings.
Built during the reign of Doge Francesco Foscari. It was here that the precious codices which Petrarch and Cardinal Bessarion had left to the Republic were housed before the building of the Biblioteca Marciana. Thereafter, in 1532, it was decided to use this chamber for the voting procedures required by various state appointments, hence its present name. ( info by Shay Tressa )
The decor dates from 1578 to 1615. The richly decorated ceiling was designed by the painter-cartographer Cristoforo Sorte and depicts Venetian naval victories in the East and the conquest of Padua in 1405.
The walls are decorated with various military victories over the period 809 to 1656; Andrea Vicentino's rendering of The Battle of Lepanto in 1571 is particularly striking.
It may seem strange that a room destined to be used for voting purposes has a decor which exalts military might rather than political wisdom; but the whole scheme was carried out just after that victory at Lepanto, at a time when Venice's pride in its arms was at its greatest.
The frieze under the ceiling continues the series of portraits of doges, while one of the shorter walls is decorated with a Last Judgement. Painted by Jacopo Palma il Giovane between 1594 and 1595, this could be seen as linked with the Paradiso in the Hall of the Great Council.
The Voting Chamber ends with a majestic triumphal arch. The work of Andrea Tirali, this was raised to commemorate Doge Francesco Morosini Peloponnesiaco, who died in 1694 during the successful campaign in which Venice took control of the Peloponnese from the Turks.
The Sala dello Scrutinio with many large historical paintings.
Built during the reign of Doge Francesco Foscari. It was here that the precious codices which Petrarch and Cardinal Bessarion had left to the Republic were housed before the building of the Biblioteca Marciana. Thereafter, in 1532, it was decided to use this chamber for the voting procedures required by various state appointments, hence its present name. ( info by Shay Tressa )
The decor dates from 1578 to 1615. The richly decorated ceiling was designed by the painter-cartographer Cristoforo Sorte and depicts Venetian naval victories in the East and the conquest of Padua in 1405.
The walls are decorated with various military victories over the period 809 to 1656; Andrea Vicentino's rendering of The Battle of Lepanto in 1571 is particularly striking.
It may seem strange that a room destined to be used for voting purposes has a decor which exalts military might rather than political wisdom; but the whole scheme was carried out just after that victory at Lepanto, at a time when Venice's pride in its arms was at its greatest.
The frieze under the ceiling continues the series of portraits of doges, while one of the shorter walls is decorated with a Last Judgement. Painted by Jacopo Palma il Giovane between 1594 and 1595, this could be seen as linked with the Paradiso in the Hall of the Great Council.
The Voting Chamber ends with a majestic triumphal arch. The work of Andrea Tirali, this was raised to commemorate Doge Francesco Morosini Peloponnesiaco, who died in 1694 during the successful campaign in which Venice took control of the Peloponnese from the Turks.