Titian Pesaro Madona - 1519. This is a painting that tourists often do not get to see in Venice.

The Hidden Art in Venice

by Michael Phillips - 23/11/2011

Many of the great works of art in Venice are in hidden locations. The church of San Salvadore on the quiet pathway from the Accademia bridge to the Rialto bridge can be easily and most likely overlooked by the average tourist. Yet in the last apse on the right is Titian's late great Annunciation of the Virgin 1556, oil on canvas. This late painting appears unexpectedly 'Modernistic', in its romantic loss of clarity and brillant expressionistic colors. Titian's late work moved in this direction away from the balanced harmonies of his early work, most characterised by his High Renaissance Assumption of the Virgin in the Frari Cathedral of 1516. Titian (1488-1576) as other Venitian artists developed away from High Renaissance ideals early in his career.

The Frari itself, in the San Paolo district, is not on the normal tourist pathways of Venice and could easily be missed. Tourist who often stick to the area between St. Marks square and the Rialto Bridge would be unaware of the many historic works in this church. St. Marks Cathedral itself - which could easily occupy all your time on a brief trip to Venice with is magnificant mosaics and the Ducal Palace with its great masterpieces and Bridge of Sighs are the main tourist areas of Venice..

The almost 20 foot high alterpies of the Assumption of the Virgin, is among the most powerful experiences of Venitian art when first seen in the Frari: So much so that Titian's equally great Pesaro Madonna, 1519, in the apse just to the left of the Frari Alter goes almost unnoticed initially. Seen at night with coral music playing the experience should not be missed. (The Assumption of the Virgin is illustrated on the home page of this site.) There are many other great works in the Frari, including works by Bellini and Donatello. In other words, the Frari is a museum in itself much as Venice is a museum in itself. With the exception of the Accademia Museum in Venice, the churches are the museum, quiet, private and the original location hundreds of years ago of these great works.