Gospa od Škrpjela

The main altar was erected by the father and son team from Genoa, Antonio and Gerolamo Capellano, in 1765. The lines on the back side of the altar bear witness to that fact:

ANTONIO CAPELLANO
Q. GIUSEPPE D'ANNI 75.
E GEROLAMO FIGLIO
PROFESSORI DA MARMI IN
GENOVA 1796.

The blueprint for the altar was made in Venice, and was sent to the masters in Genoa by Captain Mato Chiorko (Čorko). The altar was brought to Perast by Captain Josip Rupčić on board the Corriere di Soria in 1796.

The building of the altar was financed by the entire community of Perast, as is stated on the actual altar:

D.O.M.
BENEFACTORES PERASTENSES
POSVERVNT
ANNO DOMINI MDCCXCVI

In the middle of the rounded base of the altar with curved edges lies a cartouche with Mary's monogram (MARIA), decorated with ver­tical marble ribbons. Three curved steps are adjacent to the altar, each longer and higher than the previous. The edges of the middle step are decorated, as well as the edges of the last step, which bear white mar­ble angel heads. In the middle is a tabernacle with green marble pillars, topped with a canopy, with a niche containing the gothic painting of the Madonna with the Baby. The painting is surrounded by a multitude of angels that seem to be holding it, as well as a lowering curtain.

The museum collection preserved the blueprint of the altar that was sent from Venice to Genoa, and according to which Antonio and Gerolamao Capellano were to build it. The type of marble to be used for the altar was precisely determined, and the height of the triumphal arch in the shrine where the altar would be placed was specified. Below the blueprint, explanations and guidelines for selecting the marble were recorded:

A) Rosso orientalle, osia Porta santa di Egitto. B) Verde antico, C) Giallo di Silenna, D) II nome di Maria, E) Alteza del Archivoto esteriore della Capella, F) Largezza del Specatto esteriore della capella, G) Largezza del Specatto della Capella.

On the side of the painting of the Madonna stand two marble statutes: St. John the Baptist, with an eagle and the Bible, and St. Roko, with a dog and a walking stick. These were made before the altar by the Venetian sculptor Francesco Gai (signed: FRA.o GAI F.), son of the famous Antonio Gai. The statues, 140 cm high, are languid, tightly compacted, and inadequately articulated works of a master who does not fit into the modern tendencies of Venice at the end of the 18^lh century, when Classicism already became dominant. They were commissioned by Ivan Diego Marinović in 1783, as is stated on their bases (EX. DONO I0. DIDACI MARINOVICH A. o 1783).