Queen Of The Adriatic

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 11

Queen Of The Adriatic

(Written for the “Star” by T.C.)

VENICE is one of the world’s most beautiful and attractive cities. She has been termed “The Queen of the Adriatic.”

This wonderful Italian city has much interest for the student of ancient and modern history. Venice was at one time one of the greatest powers in Europe, with many island possessions in the Mediterranean, and also forriied a bulwark for Europe against the aggressive Turkish power, when that power was menacing many of the nations of Europe.

Situated at the head of the Adriatic, Venice is built on the Venetian lagoon. It is connected with the mainland by a railway viaduct across the lagoon, miles long. The main thoroughfares of Venice are waterways and connection is made with different parts of the city by means of the famous gondolas. The waterways are, The Canale della Guidecca, the Canale di San Marco, and the Grand Canal. On the Grand Canal is the famous bridge of the Rialto, mentioned by Shakespeare in “The Merchant of Venice.” The present bridge is about three centuries old. The first bridge, a woodep one, was built in 1264. Another famous bridge is * ‘ The Bridge of Sighs.” This bridge leads from the upper storey of the Doge’s Palace to the State prison, wher.e ip the early days pf the republic many political offenders were imprispned. Venice has many beautiful buildings. The Church of Santa Maria della Salute was built in the middle of the 17th century as a symbol of the deliverance of the city from the plague. It is seen across the Grand Ognal over a forest of ornamental posts to which gondolas are tied. The 4o m e pf this beautiful church, which has beep described as the noblest dome in Venice, was erected as a thankoffering-. Another famous church is the Church of St. Mark. This church was commenced in the 10th century and was consecrated in 1094, St. Mark’s is the

largest pf the Italian Byzantine Churches, covering an area of 46,000 sq. feet, and measuring 260 ft by 215 ft, The building consists of two stories, which are divided by a gallery which extends round the whole of tbe bpilding. On this lovely church are several large domes. Over the largest portal are four gilded bronze horses, each sft. high. They probably adorned the triumphal arch of the infamous Emperor Nero, and are the work of a Corinthian sculptor of more than twenty centuries ago. They were brought to Venice from Constantinople in 1204 by the Doge Enrico Dandolo, were taken by Napoleon to Paris in 1797, but were returned in. 1815. During' the World War when Venice was threatened by the Austrians these horses were taken down and hidden away. They are a magnificent example of the sculptor’s art. St. Mark’s, which became a cathedral in 1807, was the State church of the Republic of Venice, and in it the Po ge-s were erowped. At. St. Mark’s there is a new Campanile or Bell Tower, which replaces one that fell in 1902. This Campanile is a prominent feature of Venice. Another great building is the Palace of the Doges. This palace is composed of three stories, of which the upper storey, faced with rose-col-oured slabs of marble, is equal to the height of the two lower stories. Above the main entrance to the palace are the sculptures of the Doge Foseari and the Lion of St. Mark with the open Bible. There is also a. group of figures representing the Judgment of Solomon. Venice has produced many famous artists, and the Venetian school of painting is deservedly famous. Of these great artists, whose masterpieces are the admiration of tfie world, we think especially of Titian and Tintoretto. Titian was born about the year 1477. Concerning the age of Titian there has been some controversy. It has been claimed by some that Titian lived to the great age of 100 years. Other accounts state that he died at the age of 94 v and still others at the age of 89. Titian was not a native of Venice, but was born in the town of Cadore on a spur of the Alps, and spent his boyhood days amid Alpine solitudes. As a young man he came to Venice and studied under Gentile Bellini, and then attached himself to the famous painter Giorgione. In 1513 he applied to the Council of Ten to be made the official painter, and three years later his request was granted. From that time Titian became the head of the Venetian School. Many of Titian’s finest paintings are in the Academy and the churches of Venice. The Prado Gallery at Madrid contains a wonderful series of the paintings of Titian. His works are also to be found in Florence, Dresden, Rome, Vienna, Milan, Munich, London and Antwerp. Some of his famous works are “Sacred and Profane Love” (Borghese Gallery, Rome), “Flora” (Uffizi Gallery, Florence), “Bacchus and Ariadne” (National Gallery, London), “Charles-V.” (Prado, Madrid), “The Assumption of the Virgin” (Academy, Venice). In 1530 when the Emperor Charles V. was in Bologna, Titian was invited.to that city and commissioned to paint His Majesty in full armour. Vasari tells us that the Emperor was so delighted with this portrait that he gave the artist 1000 gold crowns, declaring that he would never have his portrait done by any other painter. He frequently employed Titian and gave him 1000 gold crowns for each portrait. Titian was succeeded by Jacopo Robusti, nicknamed Tintoretto (the Little Dyer), from the occupation of his father, who was a dyer. Tintoretto was born at Venice in 1518. Having early given promise of his future genius he was apprenticed as a pupil to Titian. It is said that Titian dismissed him through jealousy of the success of his pupil or, according to some accounts, because Tintoretto refused to obey Titian’s commands. Tintoretto also came under the influence of Michael Angelo. An amusing story of this artist is told by Sir William Orpen, R.A. The four leading painters of Venice were invited to submit designs to decorate the ceiling of San Rocco. The commission was to be given to the artist who produced the best design.

But while the artists were given themselves with all diligence to the preparation of their designs, Tintoretto made an exact measurement of the space for which the picture was required, and taking a large canvas he painted it and without

Venice, The City Of Waterways

Struggle Of Republic In Wars With Turks

saying a word to anyone, put it up in the place destined to receive the accepted picture. When the brotherhood assembled to see the designs they found the work of Tintoretto completed gpd fixed in its.place. The three artists were furious and Tintoretto was asked to explain why he had acted so. He replied: '* ‘ This is my method of preparing designs. I do not know how to make them in any other manner. All designs and models for a work should be executed in this fashion, to the end that the persons interested may see what it is intended to offer them and may not be deceived. If you do not think it proper to pay for the work and remunerate me for my pains, then I will make you a present of it.” The picture was allowed to remain. The largest painting in the world, the “Paradiso,” in the Ducal Palace, Venice - , is 84ft wide by 34ft high. It is said that of this great work and of most of this artist’s great works, that no photograph can convey an adequate idea of them.

Marco Polo, the great traveller; was also a. native of Venice. He was born in 1254 of noble parentage. In 1271 he, with his uncle and father, visited China, passing through Persia, Western Asia and Tartary on the way. For three years Marco was governor of the city of Yangehow, and was employed in various political missions to India and to other parts of China. After an absence of twenty-four years the Polos returned to Venice, During a war of the Venetians with the Genoans, Marco was taken prisoner, and it was while he was in prison that he dictated in French to one of his fellow captives, Rustieiano di Pisa, an account of his travels. This account was published as the “Book of Marco Po]o,” and has been translated into many languages. Venice has had a stirring* history. J. C. Sismondi, a notec]. historian of Swiss birth, in his “History of the Italian Republics,” places before us many interesting facts in the history of the Venetian Republic. Amongst these republics the most prominent were Venice, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Pisa and Rome. For centuries Venice was considered part of the Eastern Roman Empire, which had its seat pf government at Constantinople. Venice owed its origin, to the invasion of Italy by the Huns under Attila in the sth century. The lagoons in the Adriatic had formed, a place of refuge for the rich inhabitants of Padua, Vicenza, Verona and other cities of Venetia. Soon Venice became a self-governing republic under her own Doges. When the republic had risen to power the rich merchants decided to exclude the people from any part of the government and formed an exclusive aristocracy which elected the Council and appointed the Doge. In the 14th century there came into existence the famous Council of Ton, which, in spite of its name, was comprised of sixteen members and the Doge. Ten councillors of the black robe were annually elected by the great council in the months of August and September, and of the six councillors of the red robe three entered office every four months. The Council in 1355 decreed the execution of the Doge, Marino Faliero. for conspiring to make himself despot. The Council itself often ruled with despotic power. The last Doge abdicated in 1797 to make way for the rule of Napoleon. Venice took a leading part in the Fourth Crusade. The Crusaders were led by the Venetians against Constantinople, the capital of the Greek Empire. This was captured and much booty fell into the hands pf thp Crusaders. Venice received as her share the Greek islands in the Aegean and the lonian Seas, a portion of Constantinople, and the entrance to the Black Sea. Constantinople soon regained its independence, but the Morea and the Greek Islands were ruled by Venice until 1718. In 1405 Venice conquered Padua and Verona. Constantinople having been captured by the Turks, the Venetian Republic sent an ambassador to the Turkish ruler to redeem the Venetian citizens who had been taken captive in the capital of the Greek Empire. A treaty pf peace was signed between Venice and the Turks. However, war soon broke out in the Morea between the two countries. During this war the Venetians became masters of Cyprus, the crown of which Venice united with those of Candia and the Morea. The Turks, after a vain siege pf Lepanto in 1475 took the flourishing colony of the Genoese in the Crimea. The Turks then threatened the states of the Venetians. Venice made peace with the Turks and gave to them Scutari, together with several fortresses in Illyria and the Morea. In 1571 topk place the great naval battle of Lepanto. This battle was fought between the Holy League and the Turks. Under Don John of Austria, a combined Spanish, Papal, Venetian and Genoese fleet of 202 vessels attacked a Turkish fleet of 272 vessels. Such a defeat >vas inflicted upon the Turkish fleet that the Turks never recovered their naval power. This was the last great naval fight where oared galleys were used. The Turks are said to haye lost 190 galleys, 30,000 men killed, 10,000 prisoners, and 12,000 slaves, who were freed. The Allies lost 7500 killed. In 1488 the discovery of the •sea route to India round the Cape of Good Hope destroyed the value of the Mediterranean routes

'>nd brought riches of the Orient to the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. In 1539, by the League of Cambrai, the Powers wrested from Venice all her territories on the mainland of Italy. In 1645 war again broke out with the Turks. This war lasted for twenty-five years. The Venetian fleet twice destroyed the Turkish fleet, but at the end of the war victory remained with the Turks. Candia surrendered to the Turks on September 6, 1669. A further war with the Turks resulted in the loss of the Morea in 1718. During the Napoleonic* wars Venice was captured by the French. By the - Treaty of Campo which was signed on October 17, 1797, Austria, however, secured possession of Venice and much of her territory. Later, by the Treaty of Presburg, signed December 26, 1805, Austria was compelled to restore Venice and all her territory to the kingdopi of Italy.