Catholic churches or Orthodox cathedrals? Basilicas of Venice and Padua in the notes of Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky

Abstract

The author analyses the attribution error made by Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky in his pilgrimage notes. It lies in the fact that he mistook three Italian basilicas, namely San Marco in Venice, St Anthony and Santa Giustina in Padua, for Orthodox cathedrals turned into Catholic churches. The aim of the study is to identify the reasons behind the his conclusion. To answer the question, the author resorts to the qualitative method of analysing the source text. She concludes that the error results from the interpretation of the dome completions and the style of painting of these churches as corresponding to the Orthodox tradition. In addition, the interpretation of San Marco may have been influenced by the oral testimony of the Venetian Greeks, which Barsky may have falsely interpreted.