Doge's Palace (Venice) - Capitals
The portal columns are 3,10 m, the capitals 69,5 cm high.
- If you can read English, you might enjoy reading the description of these sculptures, one by one, given in 19th century by John Ruskin in his The stones of Venice [1853]. You can find the relevant text here (capitals 1-12) and here (capitals 13-37).
The columns are counted following John Ruskin from right to left according to their age.
All capitals, except that of the first, are octagonal and decorated by sixteen leaves.
There are five different types of capitals (A, B1-4). All capitals vault towards the octagonal abacus. Spathaceous bracts mark the corners of the abacus. There are two different versions of the abacus (A/B).
Type A
The corners are covered by eight broad ornamental bands, which vault to the exterior beneath the abacus. The volutes are in form of five-lobed leaves reminding of wine leaves. These capitals are only decorated by heads of human beings or animals. Seven capitals from the 13th-century belong to this type.
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 02
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 05
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 12
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 15
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 19
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 22
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 27
Type B
Eight high leaves rise to the angles, and there forming volutes. These types of capitals have a second ring of half-grown leaves on the sides, which form the base for the figurative decorations besides the spathaceous bracts at the eight corners of the abacus. The leaves are organized as volutes, bundles, spathaceous bracts or half grown leaves which form the four variants of this type.
The leaf-veins develop from the central leaf-vein (B1 see Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 21, B2 see Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 08) or begin from the abacus (B4 Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 17 with the three-lobed leaves volutes turning aside). The upper leaves of the five-lobed volutes of type B1, B2 curl into cycles or upwards into scrolls.
Type B1 see
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 01
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 07
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 10
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 13
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 21
Type B2
The half grown leaves come out an up growing bundle
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 00
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 06
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 08
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 09
Capitals in the Doge's Palace (Venice) - 11
Original 1342-1348
(Incompleto / Incomplete)
-
west
Man with a goblet
g) Man with a straight razor -
Man with a goblet
-
west
g) Man with Gugel and straight razor -
west
g) Man with Gugeland straight razor
western side: h) A child carrying in one hand a comb; in the other, a pair of scissors
southern side
a) A child holding a bird before him, with its wings expanded, covering his breast -
west
g) Man with Gugeland straight razor
western side: h) A child carrying in one hand a comb; in the other, a pair of scissors
southern side
a) A child holding a bird before him, with its wings expanded, covering his breast -
west
g) Man with Gugeland straight razor
western side: h) A child carrying in one hand a comb; in the other, a pair of scissors
southern side
a) A child holding a bird before him, with its wings expanded, covering his breast -
Deutsch: Südseite,Front,Meerseite
a) halbfiguriger Junge hält Vogel-Junges mit ausgebreiteten Flügeln vor der Brust -
above the forgoing
copy by anonymous 1888, original 1342-1348 Museo dell'Opera
(Incompleto / Incomplete)
-
a) web-footed bird with a fish
b) Bird clawed with a serpent, which opens its jaws, and darts its tongue at the bird's breast
c) A bird pluming itself, with a feather between the mandibles of its bill.
Dame e cavalieri / Ladies and knights
copy by anonymous 1888, original 1342-1348 Museo dell'Opera
(Incompleto / Incomplete)
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Giovane / Youth.
-
Dama / Lady.
-
Cavaliere / Knight.
-
Cavaliere / Knight.
(Incompleto / Incomplete)
-
a) Boy with bird and half of a chestnut
-
a) Boy with bird and half of a chestnut
b) Boy with grapes
c) the third holds a fresh fig, cut through, showing the seeds, supporting his head in melancholy -
b) Boy with grapes
c) Boy supporting his head in melancholy -
f) Boy holding a fruit to his breast
g) Boy with cherries -
f) Boy holding a fruit to his breast
g) Boy with cherries
h) Boy with pomegranate -
f) Boy holding a fruit to his breast
g) Boy with cherries
h) Boy with pomegranate -
g) Boy with cherries
h) Boy with pomegranate
a) Boy with bird and half of a chestnut -
h) Boy with pomegranate
-
a) Vespasianus imperator
TITUS VESPASIAN IMPERATOR (contracted IPAT.) -
b) Traianus imperator.
-
d) Nebuchadnezzar.
-
h) Octavianus Augustus imperator.
-
h) MODESTIA ROBU OBTINEO
Woman pointing at a pot
a) LARGITAS ME ONORAT
Man takes money - Freigebigkeit ehrt mich
b) CONSTANCIA SU NIL TIMES -
g) INFIDELITATE NULI GERO Man with beard and turban pointing at a naked idol h) MODESTIA ROBU OBTINEO Woman pointing at a pot
-
g) INFIDELITATE NULI GERO Man with beard and turban pointing at a naked idol h) MODESTIA ROBU OBTINEO Woman pointing at a pot a) LARGITAS ME ONORAT Man takes money
-
h) Young man with dragon tail
a) Young man with a violin, lower part of his body is of a fish
b) Young man playing the lute; paws of a bear are under his dress -
g) Centaur
h) Young man with dragon tail
a) Young man with a violin, lower part of his body is of a fish
-
a)Fides optima Deo (Fede / Faith).
-
b)Fortitudo invincibilis (Fortezza / Fortitude).
-
c)Temperancia sum in omnibus (Temperanza / Temperance).
-
d)Humilitas abitat in me (Umiltà / Humility).
-
e)Charitas Dei mecum est (Carità / Charity).
-
f)Rex sum iusticie (Giustizia / Justice).
-
g) Prudencia metit omnia (Prudenza / Prudence).
-
h) Spem habe in Domino (Speranza / Hope).
-
h) Spem habe in Domino (Speranza / Hope).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
a)Lusuria sum inmensa (Lussuria / Lust)
-
b)Gula sine ordine sum (Gola / Gluttony).
-
c)Superbia preese volo (Superbia / Pride).
-
d)Ira crudelis est in me (Ira / Anger).
-
e)Avaricia anplector (Avarizia / Greed).
-
f)Accidia me stringit (Accidia / Laziness).
-
g)Vanitas in me abundat (Vanità / Vanity).
-
h)Invidia me cumburit (Invidia / Envy).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
In gran parte una replica ottocentesca / Mostly a 19th century replica.
-
Il capitello / The chapital.
-
Misericordia D.ni mecum est (Misericordia / Mercy).
-
Alacritas canit mecum (Alacrità).
-
Stulticia in me regnat (Stoltezza / Folly).
-
Chastitas celeps est (castità / Chastity).
-
Honestatem diligo (Onestà / Honesty).
-
Falsa fides in me semper est (Frode / Fraud).
-
Iniusticia seva sum (Ingiustizia / Injustice).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Astinencia optima est (Astinenza / Abstinence).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Leone / Lion.
-
Leonessa / Lioness.
-
Cane / Dog.
-
Volpe (?) / Fox (?).
-
Cinghiale / Boar.
-
Levriero / Greyhound.
-
Scimmia / Monkey.
-
Scimmia / Monkey.
-
Il capitello /The capital.
-
Donna che fila / Spinning woman.
-
Falconiere / Falconer.
-
Cavaliere / Knight.
-
Dama / Lady.
-
Dama / Lady
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Adolescente / Youth.
-
Il capitello / The chapital.
-
Moor.
-
Moor.
-
Il capitello / The chapital.
-
Il capitello / The chapital.
-
Mongolian.
-
Satyr (!)
-
Il capitello / The chapital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Salomon sapiens.
-
Priscianus gramaticus.
-
Aristoteles dialecticus.
-
Tullius rhetoricus.
-
Pitagoras arsmetricus.
-
Heuclides geometricus.
-
TubalChaim musicus.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Tolomeus astrologus.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Saturno, Capricorno, Acquario / Saturn, Capricron, Aquarius.
-
Giove, Pesci, Sagittario. / Jupiter, Pisces, Sagittarius.
-
Marte, Ariete, Scorpione / Mars, Aries, Scorpio.
-
Sole e Leone / Sun and Lion.
-
Sole e Leone / Sun and Lion.
-
Venere, Toro e Bilancia / Venus, Taurus and Libra.
-
Venere, Toro e Bilancia / Venus, Taurus and Libra.
-
Mercurio e Gemelli / Mercurius and Gemini.
-
Mercurio e Gemelli / Mercurius and Gemini.
-
Luna e Cancro / Moon and Cancer.
-
Luna e Cancro / Moon and Cancer.
-
La Terra: Dio forma Adamo ed Eva / Earth: God forming Adam and Eve.
-
La Terra: Dio forma Adamo ed Eva / Earth: God forming Adam and Eve.
-
Il capitello / The capital
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
S. Simplicius.
-
S. Claudius
-
Disipulus incredulus.
-
S. Chastorius.
-
Disipulus optimus.
-
S. Nichostratus.
-
Tartarus disipulus.
-
S. Simphorianus.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Lupus (lupo) / Wolf.
-
Vulpis (volpe) / Fox.
-
Grifo (grifone) / Griffin.
-
Aper (cinghale) / Boar.
-
Chanis (cane) / Dog.
-
Musipulus (?).
-
Ursus (orso) / Bear.
-
Leo (leone) / Lion.
-
I capitelli 20 e 21 / Capitals 20 & 21.
-
Lapicida (Scalpellino / Stone-cutter).
-
Aurifices (Orefice / Goldsmith).
-
Cerdosum ? . Cobbler
-
Cerdosum ?. Cobbler
-
Carpentarius (Carperntiere / Carpenter).
-
Mensurator (Misuratore / Measurer).
-
Agrichola (Agricoltore / Peasant).
-
Notarius (Notaio / Notary).
-
Faber (Fabbro / Blacksmith).
-
Faber (Fabbro / Blacksmith).
-
Il capitello / the capital.
-
Il capitello / the capital.
-
(Infanzia)
-
(Prima adolescenza)
-
Adolosencie (Adolescenza / Early youth).
-
(Età adulta / Adult age)
-
Senectute (Età piena / Full age)
-
(Vecchiaia / Old age)
-
Decrepite... (Decrepitezza / Very old age)
-
Ultime mors ("Infine, la morte" / "Eventually, death").
-
Il capitello / the capital.
-
Il capitello / the capital.
-
Latini.
-
Latini, Tartari.
-
Tartari (Tartars).
-
Turchi (Turks).
-
Ongari (Ungheresi / Hungarians).
-
Greci (Greeks).
-
Goti (goths)
-
Egicum (Egiziano / Egyptian).
-
Persii (Persians).
-
Persii, Latini (Persian and Latin people).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Corteggiamento / Courtship.
-
Corteggiamento / Courtship.
-
Matrimonio / Marriage.
-
Bacio / Kiss.
-
Accoppiamento / Sexual intercourse.
-
Nascita del neonato / Birth of the sibling.
-
Famiglia / Family.
-
Morte del bambino / Death of the sibling.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Inuariu Febrauriu.
-
Marcius cornator.
-
Aprilis Magius.
-
Iunius cum ceresis.
-
Iulius Agustu.
-
September supeditat.
-
Octube Novenbe.
-
December necat suem.
-
I capitelli fino al n. 26 / Capitals until #26.
-
I capitelli dal 26 in poi / Capitals from # 26 on.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Çerexis (ciliege) / Cherries.
-
Piri / Pears.
-
Chucumeris (cetrioli) / Cucumbers
-
Persici (pesche) / Peaches.
-
Moloni (meloni) / Melons.
-
Çuche (zucche) / Pumpkins.
-
Fici (fichi) / Figues.
-
Huva (uva) / Grapes.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Constancia.
-
Dischordia discordans.
-
Paciencia manet mecum.
-
Disperacio.
-
Obediencia Dno exireo.
-
In fidelitate nullli gero.
-
Modestia.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Fides (Fede / Faith)
-
"Fortitudo invincibilis" (Fortezza / Fortitude).
-
"Temperancia sum in omnibus" (Temperanza / Temperance).
-
"Humilitas abitat in me" (Umiltà / Humility).
-
" Karitas Dei mecum est" (Carità / Charity).
-
"Rex sum iusticie " (Giustizia / Justice).
-
"Prudentia metit omnia" (Prudenza / Prudence).
-
"Spem habe in Domino" (Speranza / Hope).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Accidia me stringit
-
Vanitas in me abundat
-
Invidia me comburit
-
Luxuria sum, stercus Inferi
-
Gula sine ordine sum.
-
Superbia preesse volo.
-
Ira crudelis est in me.
-
Avaricia anplector.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Mostro con Flauto di Pan / Monster playing a Pan flute.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Castitas (Castità / Chastity).
-
Castitas (Castità / Chastity).
-
Honestatem diligo (Amo l'onestà / I cherish honesty).
-
Falsitas in me semper est (La falsità è sempre in me / Falseness is always in me).
-
Iniusticia seva sum (Sono l'ingiustizia spietata / I am the merciless injustice).
-
Astinencia optima (L'astinenza è ottima / Abstince is excellent).
-
Misericordia Do<mi>ni mecum (La Misericordia divina è con me / God's Mercy is with me).
-
Alachritas chanit mecum (L'alacrità canta con me / Alachrity sings with me).
-
Stulticia in me regnat (La stoltezza regna in me / Folly rules over me).
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Anatra / Duck.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Putto con uccellino / Putto and bird.
-
Putto con uccellino / Putto and bird.
-
Putto con uccellino / Putto and bird.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Iustitia (Giustizia / Justice).
-
Iustitia (Giustizia / Justice).
-
"Aristotele che diè lege"
-
"...uolo p.lo suo iselerita"
-
"Salo" (Solone) uno dei sete savi di Grecia che diè lege".
-
"Isipione achastita ch ... ia are" (Scipione / Scipio)
-
"Numa Poppilio imperador edifichador di tempi e chiese" (Numa Pompilio).
-
"Numa Poppilio imperador edifichador di tempi e chiese" (Numa Pompilio).
-
"Quando Moisè ricevè la Lege in sul Monte"
-
"Quando Moisè ricevè la Lege in sul Monte"
-
"Traiano imperadore che fè iustitia ala vedova".
-
Dettaglio / Detail.
-
Dettaglio / Detail.
-
Dettaglio / Detail.
-
Dettaglio / Detail.
-
Dettaglio / Detail.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Il capitello / The capital.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.
-
Guerriero / A warrior.