Scrovegni

Scrovegni refers to a noble Padua family, active in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The most famous member is Enrico Scrovegni (1260–1336), a wealthy moneylender and patron who funded the construction of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. The chapel, also known as the Arena Chapel (Cappella degli Scrovegni), was built around 1303–1305 as a personal act of atonement for his involvement in usury and to demonstrate his piety.

The interior of the chapel was decorated by Giotto di Bondone and workshop, who produced a continuous cycle of frescoes depicting the life of the Virgin Mary and the life of Christ, from the Annunciation to the Resurrection, with a Last Judgment on the west wall. Begun about 1303, the work is regarded as a landmark in Western art for its emotional depth, narrative clarity, and the development of a more naturalistic space. The architecture presents a modest, unified interior designed to enhance contemplation and devotion.

The Scrovegni family’s patronage contributed to Padua’s status as a center of art and culture during the Middle Ages. Today, the Arena Chapel remains a major museum and research site, celebrated for Giotto’s pioneering use of fresco technique, narrative arrangement, and light. The chapel is a key part of Padua’s historic cityscape and is widely regarded as one of Giotto’s masterpieces.