“Visitation”, Tintoretto, 1588, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice.
This “Visitation” was positioned high up on the main staircase of the Scoula Grande di San Rocco near an annunciation by Titian. However, the light was poor and at such a height it would have been hard to see properly. In 2014, a new lighting scheme meant that visitors could appreciate the delicate beauty of this painting. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Elizabeth and Zachariah lived in the hill country of Judea. Tintoretto painted his visitation to be viewed from below and has Mary and Joseph approach from below as though the home of Elizabeth were built on a steep hill. The four figures are set against an evening sky. Our eyes are drawn to the two women as they embrace each other. Both are draped in the same bright cloth. It is orange; the colour of fire. It is as if Tintoretto has clothed them in the Holy Spirit, which will descends like tongues of fire at Pentecost. Like a beacon or a lamp, their Spirit-filled embrace blazes on a hill top against the failing light. In this way, Tintoretto echoes the Old Testament story of the Burning Bush and also looks forward to Pentecost. Perhaps it was his intention that as members of the Scuola climbed the grand staircase in the fading evening light, the bright glow of the garments would catch their eyes and they would see and appreciate the joy of Mary and Elizabeth’s embrace.
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The Catholic Chaplaincy is also a parish of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (the Parish of St Albert the Great) and all Catholic students and staff are automatically members of this parish.
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