Restored in 1995 with funding from The James R. Dougherty, Jr. Foundation, through Beatrice Rossi-Landi, Trustee.

The high altar of the Basilica di San Marco is adorned with the Pala d’Oro, a large retable consisting of gold, painted enamels, and precious jewels, including emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Various parts of this altarpiece were originally spoils acquired from the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, in addition to enamels painted by Byzantine and Venetian artists. The present appearance of the Pala d’Oro dates from 1342, when Doge Andrea Dandolo (reigned 1343–1354) ordered the enlargement of the retable.

In 1345, Dandolo commissioned Paolo Veneziano to paint the Pala Feriale, which was used to cover the front of the Pala d’Oro on weekdays – or “giorni feriali” – as the Pala d’Oro was only displayed on special occasions and high feast days.

Paolo Veneziano composed two rows of seven panels each for the cover. In the upper register, the crucified Christ appears at the center, flanked on the left by Saint George, Saint Mark, and the Virgin, and on the right by Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Peter, and Saint Nicholas. The lower register depicts seven episodes from the life of Saint Mark, including various miracles that he performed, the discovery of his body in Alexandria, and the translation of his body to Venice. His relics are housed beneath the very altar that this altarpiece would have adorned on ordinary days.

Today the Pala Feriale is displayed in the San Marco Museum, accessible from the narthex of the basilica, in the former Sala dei Banchetti.

The painting was restored by conservator Luigi Savio and the protective case entrusted to the Tosetto firm, with the guidance of project director Ettore Merkel of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Paolo Veneziano (c. 1300 – c. 1362)
Pala Feriale (cover for the Pala d’Oro)
1345, tempera on wood panel
Two panels, 59 x 325 cm each

Saint Mark’s Museum