A beloved icon of Venice, the Black Madonna adorns the main altar
Title of Art: Madonna della Salute
Subjects: Mary, Mother of God
Art Form: Painting
Exhibit Institution: Basilica Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica Saint Mary of Health)
Exhibit Location: Venice, Italy
VM Image #: 0032
Photographer: Shala Graham
Date of Photograph: January 1, 2023
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A beloved icon of Venice, this Black Madonna now adorns the high altar of a 17th century church, Santa Maria della Salute. Previously housed in Crete, known as the Madonna Mesopanditissa, or peacemaker, the icon was thought to maintain peace between Latin and Greek churches. The icon was brought to Venice in 1670 in hopes of protection from the plague.
Part of a tradition of depicting Mary and the infant Jesus with dark skin, Madonna Della Salute is a twelfth or thirteenth century icon. It was painted in Crete and brought to Venice in 1670. The architect of the church, Baldassare Longhena, added the icon to the baroque high altar he designed for the church in the 1680s.