Funerary Monument for Naval General Jacopo Foscarini, early 17th Century
Church of the Carmini, Venice

Venetian Heritage funded the restoration of the funerary monument of the Capitano da Mar Jacopo Foscarini, which was erected at the beginning of the 17^th century by an unknown author. It was made with precious marbles which Foscarini himself had collected. In line with the tradition of funerary monuments, built in honor of naval and military heroes of the Serenissima, the monument celebrates the late Capitano da Mar’s military virtues. The effigy stands in the center on a high base wearing an armory and holding the baton, symbolic of his office. The major sculptures, which celebrate Foscarini’s military virtues, are placed on the upper part of the monument. On either side, female personifications of Virtues are carved in the round; occupy niches, Charity on the left, and Faith on the right. Below, within rectangular panels, trophies of Foscarini’s military career are carved in Carrara marble. At the base of the monument, his military missions are evoked by two representations of naval deployments. Before restoration, the entire monument was covered with a thick layer of black sediment, which caused the texture and color of the stone to become indiscernible. This restoration was undertaken in memory of Mr. William Dow Lovett.