This painting depicts the Easter procession held at night between Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, when the Scuola della Passione showed the relics of the Blood of Christ to the other schools and confraternities.
As Francesco Sansovino wrote:
They are seen once a year in procession, that is, on the night of Holy Thursday when the miraculous blood is shown to the other brotherhoods.
The officials of the Scuola della Passione are seen on the right, with the Guardiano grando carrying the relic under a baldachin.
The procession of Holy Friday
Legend
Procesioni Del Venerdì Santo Con La Luminazion Della Piazza.
Processions of Holy Friday with the Illumination of the Square.
Location
Piazza San Marco with the Church of San Geminiano in the background.
Events or actions
The procession in the Piazza di San Marco at night between Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, organised by the Scuola della Passione, with the participation of the Scuole Grandi.
The officials of the Scuola della Passione are clearly visible in the lower right, with the Guardiano Grando carrying the relic of the Blood of Christ.
The figures in the procession in Bella’s painting are identical to the image of the watercolour by Giovanni Grevembroch (see below).
Other versions
Related articles
Venetian Stories
Related sources
- Scuola della Passione — School of the Passion — Venetia Descritta (1581)
Related images
- Scuola della Passione — School of the Passion — Grevembroch 2-62
- The building of the Scuola della Passione in Campo dei Frari.
- Veduta del Campo detto de Frari — Il Gran Teatro di Venezia
Bibliography
- Grevembroch, Giovanni. Gli abiti de veneziani di quasi ogni eta con diligenza raccolti e dipinti nel secolo XVIII, orig. c. 1754. Venezia, Filippi Editore, 1981. [more]
- Sansovino, Francesco. Venetia citta nobilissima et singolare, descritta in 14. libri da M. Francesco Sansouino. In Venetia appresso Iacomo Sansouino, 1581. [more] 🔗
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