III. GROTESQUE RENAISSANCE 149

follia architettonica,” the other as “orrido ammasso di pietra d’ Istria,” with added expressions of contempt, as just as it is unmitigated.

§ 20. Now both these churches, which I should like the reader to visit in succession, if possible, after that of Sta. Maria Formosa, agree with that church, and with each other, in being totally destitute of religious symbols, and entirely dedicated to the honour of two Venetian families. In San Moisè,¹ a bust of Vincenzo Fini is set on a tall narrow pyramid above the central door, with this marvellous inscription:

“OMNE FASTIGIVM

VIRTVTE IMPLET

VINCENTIVS FINI.”

It is very difficult to translate this: for “fastigium,” besides its general sense, has a particular one in architecture, and refers to the part of the building occupied by the bust; but the main meaning of it is that “Vincenzo Fini fills all height with his virtue.” The inscription goes on into farther praise, but this example is enough. Over the two lateral doors are two other laudatory inscriptions of younger members of the Fini family, the dates of death of the three heroes being 1660, 1685, and 1726, marking thus the period of consummate degradation.

§ 21. In like manner, the Church of Santa Maria Zobenigo is entirely dedicated to the Barbaro family;² the only religious symbols with which it is invested being statues of angles blowing brazen trumpets, intended to express the spreading of the fame of the Barbaro family in heaven. At

¹ [The church of Santa Maria Zobenigo must have been seen every day by Ruskin, for his house was in its square, while San Moisé was on his way to St. Mark’s. Each church contains a Tintoret: see Venetian Index, below, pp. 394, 436. Vincenzo Fini was a procurator of St. Mark’s.]

² [Ruskin noted the significance of this in a letter to his father:-

“26th December [1851].-... The enclosed paper is interesting, and worth keeping-the announcement of the death of the last male of the noblest house in Venice. The daughter is old, and has no children; the nephews are by the female side. All are going the same way. One of Effie’s oldest and feeblest friends is the last-even of the female branch-of the Mocenigos; and where we dined yesterday, in the Ca’ Barbaro, five or six stranger families-the English Consul’s one-inhabit the lower floors and state rooms of the

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