Scrovegni Chapel 1

Scrovegni Chapel

Capella degli Scrovegni

The Scrovegni Chapel, or Cappella degli Scrovegni,also known as the Arena Chapel, is a church in Padua,Veneto, Italy. It contains a fresco cycle by Giotto,completed about 1305, that is one of the most importantmasterpieces of Western art. The church was dedicatedto Santa Maria della Carità at the Feast of theAnnunciation, 1305. Giotto's fresco cycle focuses on thelife of the Virgin Mary and celebrates her role in humansalvation. The chapel is also known as the ArenaChapel because it was built on land purchased by EnricoScrovegni that abutted the site of a Roman arena. Thisspace is where an open-air procession and sacredrepresentation of the Annunciation to the Virgin hadbeen played out for a generation before the chapel wasbuilt. A motet by Marchetto da Padova appears to havebeen composed for the dedication on March 25, 1305.[1]

The chapel was commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni,whose family fortune was made through the practice ofusury, which at this time meant charging interest whenloaning money, a sin so grave that it resulted inexclusion from the Christian sacraments.[2] Built onfamily estate, it is often suggested that Enrico built thechapel in penitence for his father's sins and forabsolution for his own. Enrico's father Reginaldo degliScrovegni is the usurer encountered by Dante in the Seventh Circle of Hell. A recent study suggests that Enricohimself was involved in usurious practices and that the chapel was intended as restitution for his own sins.[3] Enrico'stomb is in the apse, and he is also portrayed in the Last Judgment presenting a model of the chapel to the Virgin.

Though the chapel was ostensibly a family oratory, it served some public functions related to the Feast of theAnnunciation.[4]

Giotto was an architect as well as an artist, but it is not known whether he designed the chapel. Apart from Giotto'spaintings, the chapel is unornamented and features a barrel vault roof. Giotto's Last Judgment covers the entire wallabove the chapel's entrance and includes the aforementioned devotional portrait of Enrico. Each wall is arranged inthree tiers of fresco groups, each with four two-meter-square scenes. Facing the altar the sequence begins at the topof the right hand wall with scenes from the life of the Virgin, including the annunciation of her mother and thepresentation at the temple. The series continues through the Nativity, the Passion of Jesus, the Resurrection, and thePentecost. The panels are noted for their emotional intensity, sculptural figures, and naturalistic space. Between themain scenes Giotto used a faux architectural scheme of painted marble decorations and small recesses.One of the most gripping paintings in the chapel is Giotto's portrayal of The Kiss of Judas, the moment of betrayalthat represents the first step on Jesus' road to the Crucifixion.[5]

Scrovegni Chapel 2

The Kiss of Judas, one of the panels in the Scrovegni Chapel

Full-size ceramic reproduction of the Scrovegni Chapel at theŌtsuka Museum of Art in Japan

Anthology of images

The iconography of the fresco cycles are those of theLife of Christ and the Life of the Virgin. TheAnnunciation occupies a central position over thechancel arch.

• Joachim is sent away from the temple• Prelude to the stories of Mary• Prelude to the stories of Christ• Joachim amongst the shepherds• An angel comes to Anna in prayer• Joachim sacrifices a kid goat to the Lord• Joachim's dream• Joachim meets Anna at the Golden Gate• Nativity of Mary and bathing the infant• Presentation of Mary at the Temple• The bringing of the branches• Prayer for the blossoming of the branches• The marriage of the Virgin• The nuptial cortege• The mission of the Annunciation to Mary• The Annunciation• Visitation• The Nativity of Jesus• The Adoration of the Magi• The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple• The Flight into Egypt• The Massacre of the Innocents• The Finding in the Temple (Jesus among the

doctors)• The Baptism of Jesus• The Wedding at Cana• The Resurrection of Lazarus• Christ enters Jerusalem• The expulsion of the dealers from the Temple• Judas's Betrayal• The Last Supper• The washing of the feet• The Kiss of Judas• Jesus before Caiaphas• Flagellation of Christ• The ascent to Calvary• Crucifixion• Lamentation of Christ• The Resurrection of Jesus — "Noli me tangere"• Ascension

Scrovegni Chapel 3

• Pentecost• The Last Judgment• Allegories of the Vices and the Virtues

Notes[1] An acrostic in the motet's text suggests Marchetto was the composer.[2] Stokstad, Marilyn[3] Anne Derbes and Mark Sandona, The Usurer's Heart: Giotto, Enrico Scrovegni, and the Arena Chapel in Padua. Pennsylvania State

University Press, 2008.[4] The connection of the Annunciation of the fresco cycles and the feast is explored by Laura Jacobus, "Giotto's Annunciation in the Arena

Chapel, Padua" The Art Bulletin 81.1 (March 1999), pp. 93-107.[5] Stokstad, Marilyn

Bibliography• Derbes, Anne, and Mark Sandona. The Usurer's Heart: Giotto, Enrico Scrovegni, and the Arena Chapel in

Padua. Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008.• Derbes, Anne, and Mark Sandona, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Giotto. Cambridge University Press, 2004.• Giuliano Pisani, L’ispirazione filosofico-teologica nella sequenza Vizi-Virtù della Cappella degli Scrovegni,

«Bollettino del Museo Civico di Padova», XCIII, 2004, Milano 2005, pp. 61–97.• Giuliano Pisani, Terapia umana e divina nella Cappella degli Scrovegni, in «Il Governo delle cose», dir. Franco

Cardini, Firenze, n. 51, anno VI, 2006, pp. 97–106.• Giuliano Pisani, L’iconologia di Cristo Giudice nella Cappella degli Scrovegni di Giotto, in «Bollettino del

Museo Civico di Padova», XCV, 2006, pp. 45–65.• Giuliano Pisani, Le allegorie della sovrapporta laterale d’accesso alla Cappella degli Scrovegni di Giotto, in

«Bollettino del Museo Civico di Padova», XCV, 2006, pp. 67–77.• Giuliano Pisani, Il miracolo della Cappella degli Scrovegni di Giotto, in Modernitas – Festival della modernità

(Milano 22-25 giugno 2006), Spirali, Milano 2006, pp. 329–57.• Giuliano Pisani, Una nuova interpretazione del ciclo giottesco agli Scrovegni, in «Padova e il suo territorio»,

XXII, 125, 2007, pp. 4–8.• Giuliano Pisani, I volti segreti di Giotto. Le rivelazioni della Cappella degli Scrovegni, Rizzoli, Milano 2008

(ISBN 9788817027229).• Giuliano Pisani, Il programma della Cappella degli Scrovegni, in Giotto e il Trecento, catalogo a cura di A.

Tomei, Skira, Milano 2009, I – I saggi, pp. 113–127.• Stokstad, Marilyn; Art History, 2011, 4th ed., ISBN 0205790941

External links• Official website (http:/ / www. cappelladegliscrovegni. it/ )• Virtual Tour and Information (http:/ / www. giottoagliscrovegni. it/ eng/ home. html)• University of Auckland (http:/ / www. arts. auckland. ac. nz/ ahist/ arthist111/ biblical_narratives/ ) most of the

images, with explanations & highlighing named figures etc.• Video introduction to Giotto's masterpiece (http:/ / www. webvisionitaly. com/ category. php?id=248&

ref_genre=& ref_item=397)

Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and ContributorsScrovegni Chapel  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=429538731  Contributors: Amandajm, Andycjp, Antonella.francioso, Attilios, Auntof6, BD2412, CARAVAGGISTI, CamiSolomon, DBaba, David G Brault, DavidBrooks, Enobarbus31bc, Galoubet, Ham, JoJan, Johnbod, Jpbowen, Karl Stas, Kimagure, KnightRider, Luhabona, Maculosae tegmine lyncis, Mandarax,Martindorp, Massimo Catarinella, Mattis, Mephiston999, Mervyn, MoiraMoira, Neddyseagoon, Olde gaffer, Olivier, Paul August, Riggr Mortis, Robinell, SchuminWeb, Scrovegnigiotto, Sparkit,Thorvaldsson, Thoughtfortheday, Vary, Wetman, 12 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:CappelladegliScrovegni.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:CappelladegliScrovegni.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:Massimo CatarinellaImage:Giotto - Scrovegni - -31- - Kiss of Judas.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-31-_-_Kiss_of_Judas.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: AndreasPraefcke, Bohème, Bon-Pirate, Evrik, Javierme, JuTa, Mattes, Olivier2, Petrusbarbygere, Sailko, Xenophon, 2 anonymous editsImage:The Otsuka Museum of Art20s3200.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Otsuka_Museum_of_Art20s3200.jpg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  Contributors: 663highland

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