Generously sponsored by The Versailles-Giverny Foundation 

More than twenty years have passed since Save Venice first funded the conservation of the façade of the Scuola Dalmata. In June 2023, a small piece from the façade detached and fell to the ground below. Following an initial examination by Venice’s fire department, conservators from the UniSVe firm  conducted a thorough check of the entire Istrian stone façade. They noted that while still in good condition following the previous restoration, some issues were identified that warrant a maintenance treatment.

The 2024 conservation of the front and side façades of the Scuola Dalmata was led by the UniSVe firm, who worked in collaboration with the Istituto Veneto per i Beni Cultural Restoration School, providing valuable hands-on experience for recent graduates and students as a part of their summer field work.

The Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, or the Scuola Dalmata, was established in the fifteenth century by the Dalmatian Slavs (called “Schiavoni”) who lived in Venice. In 1551, on the one-hundredth anniversary of their founding, the Scuola Dalmata hired Giovanni de Zan, head architect of the Arsenale, to rebuild the façade of their confraternity in Castello; his design follows the style of Jacopo Sansovino.

Two sculptural reliefs framed by Ionic columns are the focal point of the façade’s decoration. The lower relief, carved by Pietro da Salò, depicts Saint George fighting the dragon to liberate the princess. Above this image, another relief depicts the Madonna and Child flanked by Saints Catherine and John the Baptist, who presents a knight of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem to the Virgin.

The façade of the Scuola Dalmata remained in generally good condition following Save Venice’s restoration in the early 2000s. However, after twenty years, several issues had emerged that required treatment. These included the removal of biological hazards such as invasive plant and fungal growth, as well as pigeon droppings, along with repairs to the pigeon deterrent system. Additionally, the restoration addressed the oxidation of the metal elements supporting the Istrian stone decoration, the repair and replacement of deteriorated fills in the cracks and joints of the stonework, and the filling of any newly formed cracks. Flaking stonework, caused by exposure to dampness, salt deposits, and sun, was consolidated, while the lower register underwent desalination and consolidation. Lastly, the oxidized window grates were cleaned and repainted.