Giovanni Maria Morlaiter

Who is Giovanni Maria Morlaiter?

Giovanni Maria Morlaiter was an Italian sculptor of the Rococo or late-Baroque, active mainly in his native Venice.

Almost all the sculpture in the church of the Gesuati, Venice is the work of Morlaiter, whom Hugh Honour describes as "one of the ablest sculptors in eighteenth century Venice" and Semenzato as "the most brilliant interpreter of the rococo in Venetian sculpture" adding that "His work shows great dynamism" and "an inexhaustible felicity of invention". There is more of his work in the church than anywhere else in Venice.

His first work for the church was the Glory of Angels on the second altar on the right, and after this Massari engaged him for all the other principal works of sculpture, ending with the statue of Melchisedek. Clockwise from the entrance, the statues in six niches and coupled bas reliefs above are: Abraham and Jesus and the Centurion; Aaron and Jesus heals the blind; Glory of Angels; St Paul and Jesus appears to Magdalen; Christ appears to doubting Thomas; Baptism of Jesus; St Peter; Christ and Samaritan at Well; Moses and Healing of Paralytic; Melchisedech and St Peter walks on water.