This walk explores Venetian art from the early Renaissance, also touching on the urban nature of the city and its relationships with water and the East, through trade and the worship of relics. As Venetian art is highly intertwined into the culture and social structure, you will also gain knowledge of the social history of the city.

In this walk we have the possibility to visit churches such as San Zaccaria which contains stunning 15th century altarpieces, as well as one of Giovanni Bellini's most famous works. A discussion of Bellini will give us insight into the workshop practices of the day and the slow progression of thought from the artist as laborer to the artist as genius.

From San Zaccaria we may continue to the Scuola di S.Giorgio degli Schiavoni, which raises interesting issues of the immigrant populations in Venice, and the social role played by the confraternities (scuole). The scuola contains a series of paintings by Carpaccio which are still in-situ, and which depict miracles of St. George, St. Tryphon, and St. Jerome.

Throughout the walk we'll have a chance to intertwine the artistic and social history of Venice, relating the doges' tombs to political makeup of the city and the exploring of the fascinating connection between the many lay confraternities in Venice and the art patronage of the city.

At the end of the walk you will come away with a strong understanding of the early Renaissance in Venice and how it laid the foundation for the splendors of the high Renaissance artists who followed.