San Pantalon

Mosaic image from the chiesa di San Pantaleone, Lombardy. Picture by Luigi Chiesa, 04.08.2006. Image published under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 Italy License

The church of San Pantaleone Martire, known to Venetians as the San Pantalon, is located on the Rio di Ca' Foscari, a short distance from its junction with the Grand Canal.

Saint Pantaleon was a Christian physician at the Court of Diocletian. During the persecutions of the early 4th century he was denounced by jealous rivals. He refused to renounce his faith and was condemned to death.

An attempt was made to burn him but the flames were miraculously extinguished. He was tied to a stone and thrown into the sea, but did not drown. Wild animals refused to attack him and the executioners paid to behead him refused to carry out their orders.

He was eventually decapitated after praying for the souls of his tormentors. The name Pantaleon, pronounced as Pantalon in the Venetian dialect, is derived from the Greek word "Panteleemon" meaning he who has compassion for everyone.

The current church, constructed in the late 17th century, replaced the original 12th century church. Its exterior lacks a facade and is therefore unremarkable. The other buildings in the vicinity are equally anonymous. However, the interior of the church is impressive.

The vast ceiling is covered by a painting which depicts the Martyrdom and Apotheosis of Saint Pantaleon. It was completed by Gian Antonio Fumiani between 1680 and 1704.

Although the ceiling is entirely flat, Fumiani uses trompe d'oeil techniques in order to create the illusion that the interior of the church is open to the sky and is bathed in golden sunlight.

Fumiani depicts a mass ascent to heaven with three dimensional figures seemingly suspended in mid-air. The dramatic sense of movement and the multitude of figures possess a unifying rhythm.

Detail showing souls ascending to heaven from the ceiling of the Chiesa di San Pantalon by Fumiani

Fumiani fell from scaffolding while painting the ceiling. He is buried in the church.

The church also possesses the last picture by Veronese, commissioned for the high altar of the original church, which depicts San Pantaleon healing a child.

The Chapel of the Sacro Chiodo (Holy Nail) also houses a Coronation of the Virgin by Antonio Vivarini, and part of a 14th century altarpiece by Paolo Veneziano with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

Saint Pantaleon, who came from Nicomedia in Asia Minor, was a popular Greek martyr. It is probable that the original church was constructed by Byzantine merchants. A 12th century Byzantine relief in the neighbouring Calle San Pantalon suggests that the area was once colonised by Greeks.

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