Restored in 1999 with funding from Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Coleman Brown.

Saint Louis of Toulouse, more commonly known in Venice as Sant’Alvise, was born in 1274, the second son of Charles II, King of Naples and great-nephew of Louis IX, King of France. He renounced the throne of Naples in favor of his brother Robert and entered the Franciscan Order. Appointed Bishop of Toulouse at a very young age, he was only 23 when he died in 1297. Saint Alvise is one of Venice’s most beloved saints and is frequently depicted in religious art.

This statue is located in the left transept of the church of San Francesco della Vigna, on the wall between the chancel and the sacristy, just outside the Badoer Giustinian Chapel. It dates to the mid-fourteenth century and is believed to be Northern European in origin. Just how this sculpture came to Venice is not known; a visiting traveler could have brought it, or it may have been commissioned for a tomb. The saint is represented standing, dressed in his bishop’s robes and mitre and holding a staff. His hand is raised in a gesture of blessing.

The sculpture was restored by conservator Marina Zaffalon, with the guidance of project director Sandro Sponza 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.

Unidentified Northern European sculptor
Saint Louis of Toulouse
Mid-fourteenth century, alabaster
144 cm