Scuola Grande di S. Maria della Carità

Scuola della Carità represents one of the ancient venetian non-denominational institution: it was founded in 1260 and first received the appellative “grande” (just Scuole dei Battuti, that imposed flagellation to the faithfuls, were "grandi").
History of this Scuola, expecially economic, allowed to their leaders to buy, during the centuries, many properties of the adjoining monastery, and build the hotel to give hospitality to the poor people.
Evidence of its architectural structure comes from a painting by Canaletto who painted a view of the area in his Laboratorio del tagliapietra: it shows a facade with precious pinnacles and two high central windows and a curvilinear crowning part. This facade changed in the middle part of nineteenth century when architect Massari planned again its aspect leaving the realisation of the project to Maccaruzzi: above the main door there was a niche with a statue, while in the lateral sides high windows were surrounded by Corinthian columns. More statues embellished the pediment on the top part of it.
As all the Scuole, even this one was closed by Napoleon's edict in the 1806: the building became the "Accademia di Belle Arti" (School of fine arts).
But in the 1808, Selva realized other changes of its aspect taking off the central niche above the main door and a big attic take the place of the crowning part giving to the building a more austere aspect.