Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

A POR TR AIT OF THE VENE T O  27

Renaissance (15th and Bold projecting roof Theatrical masks
16th Centuries) cornices are a feature serve as keystones
of Renaissance to window arches.
Houses of the Renaissance architecture.
period were often built in
sandstone rather than
traditional Venetian brick. The
style was based on Classical
architecture, with emphasis on
harmonious proportions and
symmetry. The decorative
language, borrowing motifs Corinthian pilasters on
from ancient Rome and Greece, the portal to San
typically incorporated fluted Giovanni Evangelista
columns, Corinthian capitals
and semicircular arches. The Venetian door,
a very popular
Palazzo Grimani (see p68) has Renaissance motif, has
lavish stone carving which none a rounded central arch
flanked by narrower
but the wealthy could afford; side openings. This
massive foundations were combination was also
constructed to bear the used for windows.
incredible weight.
Baroque (17th Century) Cherubs and
Venetian Baroque has its plumed heads
are carved into
roots in the Renaissance Baroque stone Recessed windows
and column clusters
Classical style but is far more window heads. create an interesting
exuberant. Revelling in bold play of light and
ornamentation that leaves shadow.
no surface uncarved, garlands, Semicircular
swags, cherubs, grotesque window head of
masks and rosettes animate Palazzo Balbi with
the main façades of buildings two lights and
such as the 17th-century spandrel decorated
with a circle.
Ca’ Pesaro.
Massive blocks with
deep ridges give solidity
to the lower walls.
Ca’ Pesaro (see p66) is an
example of Baroque
experimentation, with its
flat façade broken into a
three-dimensional stone
pattern of deep recesses
Baroque cartouche and strong projections.
The Venetian House Courtyards took the The upper floor
Attic rooms were place of gardens. housed the family.
The layout of a typical palazzo reserved for servants.
(often called Ca’, short for casa,
or house) has changed little The piano nobile (grand
over the centuries, despite floor), often lavishly
the very different styles of decorated, was used to
external decoration. entertain visitors.
The ground-floor
Offices, used for storing storerooms and offices
business records, evolved were used for the
into libraries. transaction
of business.

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