The Ca’ d’Oro

The Ca’ d’Oro is one of the most prestigious late Gothic palaces in Venice. Today it holds and displays the important art collection of Baron Giorgio Franchetti (1865-1927), who in 1916 donated his rich collections and the building itself to the Italian State, after restoring it to its past splendor.

The Palazzo was built between 1420 and 1430 by the famous Italian architect Bartolomeo Bon and his father Zane Bon who were later entrusted with the construction of the historic entrance to the Doge’s Palace (from the side of the Piazzetta), the amazing Porta Della Carta (1438–1442).

Originally known as the Palazzo Santa Sofia upon its completion the Ca’ d’Oro (House of Gold) immediately became a house adored by the Venetians. The nickname (partly given because of the materials like golden leaves used for its decoration) and the next commission of its architects are testament to that fact. Ca’ d’Oro’s mixture of Venetian, Byzantine, Gothic, and even Moorish styles, its delicate outer lines, and flower-like windows manage to seduce the eye more so today.

Over time the collection of the baron, which includes furniture, paintings, medals, tapestries, bronzes, and sculptures, was enlarged with the annexation of Renaissance works coming from dilapidated religious buildings and collections coming from the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Archaeological Museum.

The visit to this amazing palace that opened to the public in 1927 is not only limited to the Gallery. Of particular interest are the inner courtyard. More specifically the impressive floor marked out by the ancient marble mosaic. The mosaic was created by the Baron himself in the style of the early Christian Cathedrals, and the spectacular well sculpted by Bartolomeo Bon in 1427. The atrium, an ideal custodian of the building and its fate has treasured the remains of the baron Giorgio Franchetti.

Some of the masterpieces in the collections of the museum include the Venere also Specchio by Titian, Venere dormiente by Paris Bordon and two landscape paintings by Francesco Guardi (second floor), Doppio Ritratto by Tullio Lombardo, the Busto di Fanciullo by Gian Cristoforo Romano, Jacopo Sansovino‘s bas-relief lunette Madonna col Bambino, the Apollo by Jacopo Bonaccolsi (first floor) and the heart of the collection, San Sebastiano by Andrea Mantegna, for which Baron Franchetti made a beautiful marble chapel, in the central altar of which lies the collection’s most precious possession. (Description/ More)