Art, Music and Mums

My friend Steve loaned me his favorite book on Venice, "The Companion Guide to Venice", by Hugh Honour. I read it cover to cover like a novel becoming engrossed in its rich story-telling descriptions of masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto and Tiepolo. Unlike most cities in the world, Venice’s art has not been removed and tucked under glass for special viewing but decorates the walls of its churches and exterior of its buildings for any street passerby to enjoy. With this brilliant book, I now had a way to avoid Alan and I being on separate vacations together. I simply paused in our wanderings to locate the building I was standing in front of and read about it, sometimes out loud.

I found my favorite church bordering the district of San Marco and Cannaregio, the Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Pietro Lombardi designed the church which was built between 1481 and 1489 and Honour describes it as, “one of the most beautiful small buildings in the world.” Not only does its exquisitely petite proportions satisfy your eye but Lombardi allows the richness of its natural materials to speak for themselves without unnecessary adornments.

We spend an evening in the La Chiesa di S. Giacometto enjoying Vivaldi’s Four Seasons played by a magnificent local orchestra. The church located in the San Palo district is considered the oldest church in Venice and is deeply connected to the Rialto market with the inscription on its cross invoking honesty in merchants, accuracy of weights and the legality of contracts. It was rebuilt in the 11th century but retains its original form dating back to the 5th century. During intermission we strike up a conversation with the couple sitting next to us . . . only to find out that their son and daughter-in-law live 4 houses down from Alan’s father in Toronto and know him from his trips taking the dog for a walk up and down the street.

We were especially moved by a painting (artist and church now lost to me) of a mother offering her child up for baptism. We both connected to the spirit between Mum and baby and picked this painting to light a candle for our Mums who had passed away (mine just a few months ago and Alan’s several years ago). A quiet moment of giving thanks for the gift of life they gave us and wishing their spirits peace.