The Palladian Area at the Accademia Galleries in Venice, specific itineraries

Masterpieces to be seen...

The Palladian Loggia: a Unique Space

The Palladian Loggia, now included in the visit of the Accademia Galleries, is a unique exceptional space in the Venetian panorama. It was projected by Andrea Palladio in the 1500’s and it was reopened to the public in 2021 after a two year restoration. This marvellous place has been setup with 50 paintings, some of which have been presented to the public for the first time in this occasion. The works of art date back to the 1500’s and to the early 1600’s. The section of Venetian Renaissance in the Galleries has now become richer with relevant masterpieces. Several such paintings have been recently restored, so that we can admire their vibrant colours again.


The scientific project of the new setup was arranged by Roberta Battaglia and Giulio Manieri Elia, with the collaboration of Michele Nicolaci.
This is the fourth setup of the Accademia Galleries, which have been hosting for so long the best of Venetian Art, from the Byzantine period of the origins up to the masterpieces of the 1700’s.
“The reopening of these rooms”, states the director of the Galleries, “should be considered as a unique opportunity for rethinking the historical and artistic exhibit in this gallery, filling in some of the critical gaps in its narrative construction. It is a good occasion to cast new light and to give better coherence to the collection, preserving the original educational mission of the Accademia Galeries.”
 

The Works of Art: Bonifacio de’ Pitati

This new itinerary in the Palladian loggia opens up with some paintings by Bonifacio de’ Pitati, interesting painter of the 1500’s, founder of one of the most prolific artistic workshops of the period. We can admire the triptych of the Annunciation and God the Father Over St. Mark’s Square, an exceptional work of 1543, which shows us St. Mark’s Square from an unusual scenographic, bird-eye view, perspective, possibly taken from the Clock Tower; it was originally painted for the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi by the Rialto Bridge. The Creator overwhelms the square, protecting the city from the danger represented by a black threatening cloud. The most interesting aspect of the painting is possibly the description of everyday life that flows in the heart of the city.
We can also admire the Madonna of the Taylors by the same painter, actually his first work signed and dated.

The Painters from Brescia

The exhibit continues in the six rooms that open up along the loggia. The first two rooms are dedicated to painters coming from the area around the city of Brescia, such as Savoldo, with his evocative nocturnal atmospheres of Nordic influence and the colours that are instead typical of the Lombard area, Agostino da Lodi with his luminous Washing of the Feet and Moretto with his Madonna of Mount Carmel, a perfect synthesis between Bramante’s architecture and Titian’s colours.
We can also admire the melancholic Portrait of a Young Man by Lotto, one of the most meaningful masterpieces of the collection.

Jacopo da Ponte (also known as Basssano) and His Sons

For the first time an important position has been reserved for Jacopo da Ponte (known as Bassano, from his birthplace) and for his sons Francesco and Leandro. We can admire in the next two rooms their masterpieces full of classicism and rural elements of everyday life, such as The Adoration of the Shepherds. For the first time the sensual and dramatic Lucrezia by Leandro is exhibited.

 

Towards the 1600’s 

The last two rooms of the exhibit are dedicated to the artistic panorama of the Lagoon in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s. The main theme is the mannerist re-elaboration of the great artists of the Renaissance, such as Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto. Palma the Younger and Padovanino are the main characters of this period. The comparison between the two painters is really amazing, as we stand in front of the two canvases with the same subject, Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels, here placed one next to the other.
The two large canvases by Domenico Tintoretto representing Portraits of the Members of the Scola dei Mercanti are of great importance as relevant examples of portraiture of the period.


Last but not least, we find St. Francis by Annibale Carracci, a foreign painter so appreciated by the Venetian nobility and frequently present in their private collections. His works testify how the influences of Venetian art would be very well known also elsewhere.


We will be waiting for you for a guided tour of the Accademia Galleries in Venice! In the new spaces, with the works of art exhibited for the first time and those that have been recently restored, the visit will be full of surprises!
Contacts: info@guidedtoursinvenice.com

You might be also interested in the following guided itineraries and blogposts: 

Classical tours. 

Andrea Palladio in Venice. (section: Unusual tours)

The Dorsoduro district unveiled. (section: Unusual tours) 

Venice and our guided tours of the Accademia galleries. (section: Blog)

Accademia galleries of Venice: Giovanni Bellini and his workshop. (section: Blog)