engleski

Votive Paintings in Šibenik during the Ottoman Wars and the Plague Epidemic: Commissions and Local Tradition

The early modern period in Venetian Dalmatia is marked by numerous armed conflicts between The Republic and the Ottoman Empire. The town of Šibenik and the surrounding area was particularly misfortunate, experiencing both war and the plague epidemic on several occasions. During that time, which was most unfavourable for making donations and commissioning works of art, the citizens of Šibenik found relief in prayers and vows that increased their hope for salvation from peril. Thus the medieval painting entitled Our Lady of the Castle or Our Lady of Health gained the special status among the faithful, which was additionally reinforced by the post-Tridentine propaganda. Through various decrees concerning the rite and festivities, several bishops of Šibenik ruling at the beginning of the 17th century endeavoured to elevate the painting of Our Lady of the Castle to the local symbol of the post-Tridentine reformation and present it as the miraculous deliverer from war and the plague. Thus, some of the commissions financed by the bishops of Šibenik display the typical post-Tridentine practice of the inclusion of the old worshipped images within the newly erected altars, or even in the new monumental altarpieces. Such practice was followed by different ecclesiastical orders. The commissions of the bishop Vicenzo Arrigoni (1599- 1626) were especially significant in this sense also because his practice was followed by his successors. Another medieval votive painting, Our Lady of Tears, which was believed to have saved Šibenik from the 1635 plague, gained special status in the second half of the 17th century. The painting was transferred to the cathedral and bishop Alvise Marcello commissioned a new marble high altar to be erected in its honour between 1638 and 1645. The practice of worshipping the “miraculous” Gothic images, motivated by the post-Tridentine renewal, wars or the continuous threat of war and frequent outbreaks of epidemics, resulted in another phenomenon during the 17th and 18th centuries - numerous commissions of their copies were made for Dalmatian churches as well as for private devotion.

Šibenik, 17th century, Ottoman Wars, Plague Epidemic, Works of Art, Commissions, Local Tradition

The conference is co-financed by Croatian Science Foundation through research project ET TIBI DABO: Commissions and Donors in Istria, Croatian Littoral and North Dalmatia from 1300 to 1800