Art History Walking Tour of Venice

Meet the Masters Titian, Tintoretto and Bellini

Learn about Italian art through the centuries

Visit the Suola of San Giovanni Evangelist

This walk will give you a striking glimpse of Venetian art and its integral role in the public life of the city. You will come away from this tour with an appreciation for the masters of the Venetian Renaissance—Titian, Tintoretto, Bellini—and a greater understanding for how these works were meant to be viewed in context.

Part of the beauty of Venice is its wealth of art still in-situ. During this tour, your guide will focus on the churches and scuole of the San Polo sestiere. We will spend a significant amount of time examining Tintoretto's artwork here, both in terms of style and in the context of the confraternity.

At the Chiesa dei Frari, built by the Franciscans, learn about the importance of artistic commissions in the life of Renaissance Venetians as you gain insight into this microcosm of Venetian art and history from the 14th century onwards.

In the church, see two important altarpieces by Titian, The Assumption of Mary and the Madonna of Ca' Pesaro, as well as works by Bellini and Donatello. Here, you will also be able to compare and contrast the work of Titian with his forefather, Giovanni Bellini.

As you view the many works of art on this tour, your guide will teach you about the social history of Venice, including the role of the scuole in Venetian life, the effects of the plague, and the competition between artists for important commissions.