Frescoes in the Cappella Ovetari in the Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua (1448-57)
by Andrea MANTEGNA

Mantegna's earliest surviving paintings are his frescoes in the chapel belonging to the Ovetari family in the Chiesa degli Eremitani (the church of the Hermits of St Augustine) in Padua. This church was built in the 13th century and is adjacent to the Arena Chapel. The greater part of the church was destroyed during the Second World War, so today we can gain an impression of the Ovetari Chapel only with the help of photographs and old descriptions. There are also, however, a few fragments of the frescoes that were preserved after being removed in the 19th century to prevent deterioration on the damp walls.

The patron for the frescoes was the notary Antonio Ovetari who provided the funds for the decoration of the family's funerary chapel in his will in 1443. The initial contracts for a series of frescoes were drawn up by the heirs of the notary in 1448. Works were commissioned from Giovanni d'Alemagna, Antonio Vivarini, Niccolò Pizzolo, and Mantegna. There is some indication that Mantegna (young as he was) may have been the originator of both the overall formal composition.

The side walls of the chapel area were dedicated to scenes from the lives of St James and St Christopher, and the apse wall, with its window apertures was to depict the Assumption of the Virgin. Mantegna probably painted the left wall with the scenes from the life of St James, which has been almost totally lost. Of the paintings on the opposite wall, dedicated to scenes from the life of St Christopher, two scenes at the bottom are by Mantegna. The Assumption of the Virgin on the altar wall is for the most part the work by Mantegna.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Scenes from the Life of St James (scenes 1-6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

727*1400
Grayscale
215 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scenes 1-2)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1171*900
Grayscale
235 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 3)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

921*1200
Grayscale
213 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 4)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

966*1200
Grayscale
223 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 5)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

992*1200
Grayscale
224 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1042*1200
Grayscale
218 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1087*1000
True Color
227 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St James (scene 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1083*1000
True Color
188 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scenes 1-2)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1206*900
Grayscale
221 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 3)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

928*1200
Grayscale
215 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 4)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

970*1200
Grayscale
205 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 5)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1091*1200
Grayscale
202 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1064*1200
Grayscale
197 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scenes 5 and 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1500*742
True Color
223 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scenes 5 and 6)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1100*1136
True Color
232 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 5, detail)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1137*1100
True Color
238 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 5, detail)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1437*900
True Color
228 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 6, detail)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1130*1000
True Color
197 Kb



Scenes from the Life of St Christopher (scene 6, detail)
1448-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

1314*900
True Color
209 Kb



Assumption of the Virgin
1454-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

605*1400
True Color
191 Kb



Assumption of the Virgin
1454-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

644*1500
True Color
215 Kb



Assumption of the Virgin (detail)
1454-57
Fresco
Cappella Ovetari, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Padua

815*1200
True Color
187 Kb




Paintings by Andrea Mantegna
Paintings before 1460
Ovetari Chapel | San Luca Polyptych | San Zeno Polyptych
1460s | 1470s-80s | 1490s | 1500-06
Castello di San Giorgio | Camera degli Sposi | Triumphs of Caesar
Graphics | Sculptures