The Venetian Preaching Friars Between Spirituality and Cultural Project
Abstract
During the fourteenth century the Dominican convent of SS. Giovanni e Paolo assumes a central role in the social, spiritual, and cultural life of Venice. Through the active efforts of the friars, the convent became the main point of civic devotion, building a network that crossed all social levels. Having become familiar with the testamentary practice of the Venetians, the Dominicans became confessors, godparents, and, more generally, spiritual guides to widows, the poor, patricians, chancery officials, artisans, and resident foreigners. Simultaneously, the convent initiated the development of a cultural program specifically centered on Latin and the book as a vehicle of knowledge. This project unfolded along theological, missionary, and pre-humanistic lines. Within this context, Marco Polo’s Devisement dou Monde plays a fundamental role.
Submitted: Oct. 22, 2024 | Accepted: Jan. 10, 2025 | Published April 16, 2025 | Language: it
Keywords Spirituality • Marco Polo • Giovanni e Paolo • Dominican friars • SS • Venice
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