Rubens Santoro Italian, 1859-1942

This work bears testimony to Santoro's genius as a painter of architecture and perspective. Here he has depicted the neighbouring churches of Santa Maria della Visitazione (on the left) and Santa Maria del Rosario on the Zattere quay overlooking the Giudecca canal.  

The distinguished Renaissance S. Maria della Visitazione was built between 1494 and 1524, its façade relating interestingly to its larger baroque sister.  The fabric of the building was repaired by the Magistrato alle Acque between 1992 and 1994. Venice in Peril, the British Committee for the Preservation of Venice, funded the conservation of the ceiling with its 58 roundel paintings (by Pier Paolo Agabiti) of patriarchs, prophets, apostles and martyrs while the Australian Committee for Venice financed the work on the main altarpiece, which is one of three paintings lent by the Accademia. The British and Australian Committees then joined forces to complete further work, including the frescoes of the Evangelists in the cupola.