Legend of Saint Ursula
Encyclopedia
The Legend of Saint Ursula (Italian: Storie di sant'Orsola) is a series of large wall-paintings on canvas by the Italian Renaissance artist Vittore Carpaccio
, originally created for the Scuola di Sant'Orsola (Ursula) in Venice
. They are now in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice.
family, who had the Scuola of St. Ursula under their patronage and who had been distinguished for their military deeds against the "infidel" Ottomans
, which are repeatedly echoed in the panels of the cycle. This was not one of the six Scuole Grandi of Venice
, but a similar confraternity
.
According to Jacopo da Varagine's Golden Legend
, Ursula was the daughter of the Christian king of Brittany
, who was betrothed to a pagan prince in exchange to his conversion to Christianism and that both made a pilgrimage to Rome. On her way back home, at Cologne
, she was martyred by the Attila, King of the Huns
, together with her following of 10,000 virgins, after she had refused to become his wife.
The first painting is set in an open pavilion, and its scene, divided into three parts, is read from right to left. The scene is reminiscent of the liturgical drama
of the period, where all the characters sat on the stage and stood up when they had to take part in the play. On the right Ursula and her father are portrayed talking; sitting on the first step of a staircase leading to the interior is her nurse.
The central scene portrays the meeting between the king and the ambassadors. In the background is a centrally planned temple and other imaginary buildings, resembling those of contemporary Venice. On the left, in the foreground under a loggia
, is a marine panorama with a galleon
. Outside the proscenium
is a man wearing a red toga
, a hint at the didascalos, a narrator figure of the Renaissance theatre who described or commented on the play to the audience, usually in the person of an angel. Among the spectators are characters with the crest of the Compagnia della Calza, a Venetian confraternity
which organized events and spectacles during Carnival
and other religious celebrations.
The interior is portrayed with notable realism, such as in the furniture and the flowers: the latter, a myrtle and a carnation
, symbolize faithfulness in the marriage. The inscription DIVA FAUSTA, located under Hercules
's statue, indicates the redemptive nature of the divine message.
.
, then under siege by the Huns
. The banners over the tower, red-white with three golden crowns, are those of the Ottoman
sultan Mehmet II, the main Venetian enemy during Carpaccio's life. The three crowns allude to the lands under his rule: Asia
, Trabzon
and Greece
.
in Albania
against the Turks; his deed is recalled by the castle in the background.
Vittore Carpaccio
Vittore Carpaccio was an Italian painter of the Venetian school, who studied under Gentile Bellini. He is best known for a cycle of nine paintings, The Legend of Saint Ursula. His style was somewhat conservative, showing little influence from the Humanist trends that transformed Italian...
, originally created for the Scuola di Sant'Orsola (Ursula) in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. They are now in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice.
Background
The paintings were commissioned by the LoredanLoredan
The family of Loredan were a noble family of the Republic of Venice. The family contributed three Doges: Leonardo Loredan , Pietro Loredan , and Francesco Loredan , of whom only the first truly set his mark on the history of Venice; the Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan by Giovanni Bellini makes...
family, who had the Scuola of St. Ursula under their patronage and who had been distinguished for their military deeds against the "infidel" Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, which are repeatedly echoed in the panels of the cycle. This was not one of the six Scuole Grandi of Venice
Scuole Grandi of Venice
The Scuole Grandi were confraternity or sodality institutions in Venice, Italy. They were founded as early as the 13th century as charitable and religious organizations for the laity....
, but a similar confraternity
Confraternity
A confraternity is normally a Roman Catholic or Orthodox organization of lay people created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy...
.
According to Jacopo da Varagine's Golden Legend
Golden Legend
The Golden Legend is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Voragine that became a late medieval bestseller. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived, compared to twenty or so of its nearest rivals...
, Ursula was the daughter of the Christian king of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, who was betrothed to a pagan prince in exchange to his conversion to Christianism and that both made a pilgrimage to Rome. On her way back home, at Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, she was martyred by the Attila, King of the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
, together with her following of 10,000 virgins, after she had refused to become his wife.
Arrival of the Ambassadors
The first two paintings, despite depicting the first events of the cycle, were the last to be painted, in 1497-1498.The first painting is set in an open pavilion, and its scene, divided into three parts, is read from right to left. The scene is reminiscent of the liturgical drama
Liturgical drama
Liturgical drama or religious drama, in its various Christian contexts, originates from the mass itself, and usually presents a relatively complex ritual that includes theatrical elements...
of the period, where all the characters sat on the stage and stood up when they had to take part in the play. On the right Ursula and her father are portrayed talking; sitting on the first step of a staircase leading to the interior is her nurse.
The central scene portrays the meeting between the king and the ambassadors. In the background is a centrally planned temple and other imaginary buildings, resembling those of contemporary Venice. On the left, in the foreground under a loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
, is a marine panorama with a galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
. Outside the proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
is a man wearing a red toga
Toga
The toga, a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome, was a cloth of perhaps 20 ft in length which was wrapped around the body and was generally worn over a tunic. The toga was made of wool, and the tunic under it often was made of linen. After the 2nd century BC, the toga was a garment worn...
, a hint at the didascalos, a narrator figure of the Renaissance theatre who described or commented on the play to the audience, usually in the person of an angel. Among the spectators are characters with the crest of the Compagnia della Calza, a Venetian confraternity
Confraternity
A confraternity is normally a Roman Catholic or Orthodox organization of lay people created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy...
which organized events and spectacles during Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
and other religious celebrations.
The Departure of the Ambassadors
The second painting, smaller in size, depicts, in a sumptuous interior, another court meeting, usually described as the parting of the ambassadors from the king of Brittany. A scribe in the background is writing the reply for Ursula's prince. According to a different interpretation the clothes of the figures indicate pagans, and thus the characters would be part of the Brittany court, with the ambassadors leaving for their mission.The Return of the Ambassadors
The third painting portrays the ambassadors of Brittany received in an open pavilion, with an imaginary city on the background, also resembling contemporary Venetian architecture.Meeting of Ursula and the Prince
The painting is divided in two by a pennant. Immediately at its left, sitting on a parapet, is Antonio Loredan, member of the Compagnia della Calza and commissioner of the work. The division allowed Carpaccio to portray two different landscapes: on the left is Brittany (England) with castles and steep cliffs, with the prince parting from his father; on the right is the meeting of the betrothed, and her separation from her father. In the background is the departure for the pilgrimage, with an imaginary Breton/British city characterized by Renaissance and Venetian edifices.The Saint's Dream
The canvas illustrates the saint sleeping in the nuptial bed, alone, an allusion to the impossibility of the marriage. While she isThe interior is portrayed with notable realism, such as in the furniture and the flowers: the latter, a myrtle and a carnation
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
, symbolize faithfulness in the marriage. The inscription DIVA FAUSTA, located under Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
's statue, indicates the redemptive nature of the divine message.
Meeting of the Pilgrims with the Pope
The prince respects the pact with St. Ursula, accompanying her in pilgrimage to Rome. Here, outside the city's walls, the pilgrims are welcomed by the Pope, who will baptize the pagan prince and crown the spouses. Here too the ceremonial is reminiscent of the Venetian ones, and the didascalos is also present next to the Pope, in a red toga and with the appearance of the Renaissance humanist Ermolao BarbaroErmolao Barbaro
Ermolao or Hermolao Barbaro, also Hermolaus Barbarus , was an Italian Renaissance scholar.-Education:Ermolao Barbaro was born in Venice, the son of Zaccaria Barbaro, and the grandson of Francesco Barbaro...
.
Arrivals of the Pilgrims in Cologne
This painting is dated 1490, and is the first executed by Carpaccio for the cycle. It describes the arrival of the pilgrims, accompanied by the Pope, at CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, then under siege by the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
. The banners over the tower, red-white with three golden crowns, are those of the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Mehmet II, the main Venetian enemy during Carpaccio's life. The three crowns allude to the lands under his rule: Asia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
The Martyrdom and the Funeral of St. Ursula
A column in the middle of the painting, bearing the Loredan family's coat of arms, divides it into two scenes: on the left is the martyrdom of St. Ursula and her following of 10,000 virgins; on the right, her funeral. As in the previous painting, Mehmet II and his troops are depicted as Huns, with the exception of a Moorish soldier in the middle of the left scene.Glory of St. Ursula
This canvas was originally located in the Scuola's chapel, concluding the narration in the cycle. Ursula is depicted in the presence of God, over a bundle of palms (symbol of martyrdom), surrounded by her companions. Six seraphims are surrounding her with crowns. On the left are three male characters, most likely Antonio Loredan's three sons. Loredan had defended ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
against the Turks; his deed is recalled by the castle in the background.