Venice: The Art of Charity will examine the role of charity within Venetian society, looking closely at the art produced by the confraternities or scuole, social organizations that were fundamental to the city's religious and secular life. The class will focus on the purpose and organization of confraternities and the role of art within them, considering works created for both the meeting houses and the major churches of the city. The course will also illuminate how the theological virtue of Charity, as both amor dei and amor proximi, structured Renaissance notions of man and his place within the world.

September 9 - History of Confraternities and Charity in Venice

September 16 - Processions and Relics: Giovanni Bellini and the Legend of the True Cross - Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista

September 23 - Social Negotiations: Vittore Carpaccio's Paintings of the Legends of Saint George, Saint Jerome, and Saint Ursula Scuola Piccola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni and Scuola Piccola di Sant'Orsola

September 30 - Piety and Devotion: Titian's Scuola Altarpieces and Presentation of the Virgin - Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Caritˆ

October 7 - Brotherly Love: Tintoretto and the Paintings of San Rocco Scuola Grande di San Rocco

October 14 - Reformation Theology: Paintings of Purgatory and the Eucharist Scuola di San Fantin and other Counter-Reformation Scuole

The Museo ItaloAmericano in its continuing effort to enrich your life, is pleased to offer L'ARTE DEL MOSAICO, a six week class taught by artist Joan Di Stefano who has an extensive background in mosaic making and teaching classes in mosaic making. Ms. Di Stefano has her works displayed all over the U.S. as well as in France and Kenya.

Learn the ancient art of mosaic making and create small masterpieces to display on your walls, shelves or tables.