The Scuola Grande di San Rocco at Venice at Campo San Rocco, San Polo 3058, Venice, is a splendid building that stands next to the church of San Rocco and hence, takes its name from there. It is open from April to October – 09:00 to 17:30 and from November to March – 10:00 to 16:00.

The building has an exquisite exterior with large, white marble columns on the facade. The building has two halls, one at ground floor level, the other at first floor level. The Sala Terra (lower) has a nave and two aisles, with the entrance from the campo outside. From this hall a stair (with a landing surmounted by a dome) leads to the upper storey. The Sala Superiore (“Upper Hall”) was used for meetings of the fellows and had a wooden altar. It provided access to the Sala dell’Albergo, which housed the Banca and the Zonta (the confraternity’s supervisory boards).

The interiors have been beautifully done by the famous artist Tintoretto, who spent over 23 years of his life decorating the school. There are more than 50 paintings by the master and the concentration of work is almost overwhelming. Hand mirrors are available to allow visitors to inspect the ceiling paintings more easily. There is also some interesting carved woodwork, which includes a false book collection.

Works in the sala terra are in homage to the Virgin Mary, and concentrate on episodes from her life. In the sala superiore, works on the ceiling are from the Old Testament, and on the walls from the New Testament. Together, they show the biblical story from Fall to Redemption. The main works in Sala Terrena include:

• Annunciation
• Adoration of the Magi
• The Flight into Egypt
• The Slaughter of the Innocents
• Presentation in the Temple
• The Assumption of Mary
• St Mary Magdalen
• St Mary of Egypt

The main works in the ceiling of Sala Superiore include:

• Adam and Eve
• Jacob’s Ladder
• God Appears to Moses
• The Passover
• The Pillar of Fire
• The Fall of Manna in the Desert
• Moses Strikes Water from the Rock
• Miracle of the Bronze Serpent
• Elijah is Fed by the Angels
• Elisha Distributes Bread
• The Vision of the Prophet Ezekiel

The main works on the walls of Sala Superiore include:

• The Adoration of the Shepherds
• The Baptism
• Christ Tempted by Satan
• Christ Heals the Paralytic
• Multiplication of Bread and Fishes
• The Resurrection of Lazarus
• The Last Supper
• The Agony in the Garden
• The Resurrection
• The Ascension