With over 50 commissioned works by Paolo Veronese, a little less frequented by tourists, Baroque Church in Dorsoduro district is a real artist’s showcase, a real ‘must-see’ for all fans of this great painter.
At the end of 14th century Gerolimine fathers have founded the hospice and built oratory dedicated to Santa Maria Full of Grace and Justice.
Later the oratory has been converted to the church dedicated to St. Sebastian, one of patron saints of pestilence, similar to St. Roch, who also has ‘his own’ church in Venice.
However, while the church of San Rocco ( with Scuola di San Rocco ) is among the most visited places in the city, the church of San Sebastian is somehow omitted by the flocks of tourists.
The present church has been built between 1506 and 1548. The works on the interior started several years later. In 1555 the prior Bernado Torlioni from Verona invited the young painter also from Verona to decorate the sacristy walls. The painter’s name was Paolo Caliari, but he is better known as Paolo Veronese. His works today we can admire in Doge’s Palace and Accademia Gallery, but one, who wants to experience the art of Veronese should visit the church. Between 1555 and there were created 55 wall and ceiling paintings by Veronese and his helpers, most likely his brother Benedetto, two sons and nephews . In 1555 there were commissioned two paintings for the sacristy - Coronation of the Virgin and the Four Evangelists.
In the following year Veronese finished three paintings for the nave depicting the stories from the Book of Esther.
Among the wall frescoes two are real masterpieces, thay are located on boths sides of the main altar, on the left is St. Sebastian Leads SS. Mark and Marcellian to Martyrdom,
on the right The Second Martyrdom of St Sebastian.
As the whole church is filled with the creations by Veronese, so the painter’s body lies in there. Near the entrance to the sacristy there is a grave of Veronese under a painter’s burst commissioned by Matteo Cornero.
First chapel right of the main entrance hides another masterpiece – St. Nicholas by Titian.
Chiesa di San Sebastiano
Campo San Sebastiano
Dorsoduro,Venice
Phone: 041 275 04 62
Opening Hours
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm
Sun 1pm-5pm
[ photo courtesy of Paola Gospodnetich]
