HISTORY

National Library of St. Mark is a public library

Established in 1468 as the library of the Republic of
Venice
Named after St. Mark, the patron saint of the city
Located at Doge’s Palace in Saint Mark’s Square
Designed by Jacopo Sansovino
He used Palladian architecture
Symbolized the Center of learning and Classical
knowledge
1537 Construction began
Basilica Di San Marco
In December 1545 the reading room collapsed
Broad terrace
He completed 16 facades, 21 arcaded bays
1570 death of Jacopo Sansovino
Jacopo Sansovino Vincenzo Scamozzi Vincenzo Scamozzi
1904-Present, it is a museum
 FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS

WINDOWS

SYMMETRY

IONIC AND DORIC

COLUMNS
FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS

PAINTED
CEILING
FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS

ARCADES
 FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS

ENTABLATURES
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 Marciana Library (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana) is one of the
oldest and the most known libraries of Italy, situated in the very
center of Venice. It is situated right at St.Mark Square and is
F also named after St.Mark who is considered to be the heavenly
guardian of the city.
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L In fact, the project had been commissioned in 1536 before the
decision had been made to create a library. Sansovino’s
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O primary task was to evict and dismantle a collection of hostels,
taverns, food stalls, and latrines, and create a building that
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O reciprocated the grandeur of St Mark’s Square. In his original
designs, Sansovino’s edifice was to extend along the
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Procuratie Nouve all the way to the west end of the piazza
where the church of San Geminiano once stood.
MATERIALS

Istrian Limestone
Facade
 MATERIALS

Marble
Flooring
 DETAILS
EXTERIOR: FACADE

Asclepius - God of
Medicine and Silenus - God of
Healing the forest,
drunkenness, and
wine-making

Blaustrade

Ionic
Columns
 DETAILS
EXTERIOR: FACADE

Obelisk Putto Festoons

Aphrodite -
Goddess of Love
and Fertility
 DETAILS
EXTERIOR: ENTRY TO THE LIBRARY

Coffered Ceilings Two big caryatids

 DETAILS
INTERIOR: STAIRCASE

21 ceiling artworks
 DETAILS
INTERIOR: VESTIBULE

World map of Fra ‘Mauro

 DETAILS
INTERIOR: EXHIBITION HALL (READING ROOM )

Manifesto of Venetian
Mannerism

21 oil paintings in gilded frameworks

with pragmatic day life representations
THANK YOUU!