ABSTRACT
In 1554, a Venetian humanist, Bartolomeo Spathaphora di Moncada, composed a funeral oration for Doge Marc’Antonio Trevisan. In it, Bartolomeo praised the recently deceased doge and the legacy of his family contribution to the Republic of Venice. The address began with a laud of Venice in which the city’s foundation was set within the framework of biblical tradition, as the climax of a series of divinely ordained events. The term captures a broad range of categories for analysis, allowing a deep understanding of the complex conceptions of mediaeval sanctity. Typologies include saintly types such as protectors, healers, intercessors, guides, consolers and rescuers as well as a plethora of models of ideal behaviour and heroic archetypes. A word of caution, however: the evidence, both textual and visual, relating to local sanctity and devotion in Venice is scant. Although tongue-in-cheek much of the time, Franco Sacchetti expressed real concerns. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
