The Recently Restored Chapel of the Annunciation (Cappella Lando) in Chiesa di San Sebastiano, Venice.

Recently, restoration and conservation efforts were completed within the Chapel of the Annunciation (often referred to as the Cappella Lando for reasons we will explain momentarily) in the Church of San Sebastiano in Venice.  Now generally speaking, the church is in a Renaissance style church, executed by the architect Antonio Abbondi between 1508-1548, and amongst the many treasures that can be found here is an impressive cycle of paintings by Paolo Veronese -- who is actually entombed within this very church.  The entire church has, in point of fact, been the subject of various conversation efforts in recent years, but it is specifically the recently restored Chapel of the Annunciation hat I wished to draw our readers attention to.  It is a chapel that is as quaint as it is beautiful.

The chapel gets its colloquial name, "Cappello Lando," from the fact that Marco Lando, a nephew of the then Patriarch of Constantinople, was the individual (and ultimately family) under whom the chapel's patronage came to rest.

Amongst the many impressive features found within this chapel today are the Renaissance era majolica tiles that form the pavement of the chapel. These were originally installed within the chapel by the Lando family sometime between the years 1531 and 1542 and are considered a masterpiece of Renaissance ceramic. There are 384 tiles in total, depicting a wide variety of subjects including everyday objects, animals, dolphins, musical instruments and even eyeglasses. In the early 1990's these tiles were removed in order to protect them from further environmental damage, but after extensive conservation efforts in recent years they have now finally been restored and reinstalled within the chapel -- and what a difference they make in the overall character of this space. 

While the tiled pavement is clearly one of the most unique and historically significant works of art within the chapel, the altar and altarpiece of the chapel, as well as the paintings found over the wood panelling to either side, are equally impressive, especially when taken in whole. 

The altar itself dates to the eighteenth century and includes a beautiful marble bas-relief facing showing us a scene of the Annunciation. Above the altar we similarly find a beautiful painting of the Annunciation by an unknown artist that is dated to the period of the late 1500's. 

Anonymous, "The Annuncation," circa late 16th century

Located along the length of the chapel are two further canvases depicting the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin as well as the Flight into Egypt. Both of these works were completed by the artist Matteo Ingoli (+1631). It is worth noting that these were not original to the chapel but came slightly later. Originally these spaces were occupied by six painted scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary. While we can lament those losses, it is certainly difficult to be too terribly upset given the quality and beauty of Ingoli's own contributions here. 

Matteo Ingoli, "Birth of the Virgin," ca. 1610 

Matteo Ingoli, "Flight Into Egypt," ca. 1610 

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CONSERVATION EFFORTS - BEFORE AND AFTER

Now as mentioned, all of this that we are showing you today came about as a result of recent conservation efforts, and as our readers greatly enjoy a good "before and after" story I thought we would conclude our considerations today by sharing just a few of the images showing how impactful (and how necessary) these conservation efforts here were.

Before (left) and After (right)

Before (top) and After conservation (bottom).
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Before (top) and After conservation (bottom).
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Altar before conservation (top) and after (bottom)

Photos: Matteo De Fina 

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