One of the most splendid Baroque residences in Venice, Ca’ Rezzonico displays the 18th century interiors with masterpieces of art commissioned by Tiepolo, Canaletto or Andrea Brustolon.
In 1649 Filippo Bon commissioned to architect Baldassare Longhena the design of his new residence.
Salone da Ballo, Giorgio Massari © Foto Musei Civici Veneziani
However the progress of works was stopped by financial problems of Bon family and when Longhena died in 1682 the palace had finished only the facade and piano nobile covered for next 70 years with a wooden roof. In th meanwhile from Como to Venice moved the family Rezzonico, who after donating large sums for war against Turkey had their names inscribed in the Libro d’Oro as Venetian nobility. The family grew in importance and in 1751 purchased the unfinished palazzo from the hands of Bon. The task to finish the building was scheduled to Giorgio Massari, who altered some room interiors and added a second ‘piano nobile’. By 1756 the palace was finally done. Two years later the family reached the peak of supremacy two years later, when Carlo Rezzonico, Bishop of Padua, was elected Pope under the name Clement XIII.
The works on interior decoration gathered the best Venetian oainters, Giambattista Crosato,Jacopo Guarana, Gaspare Dizian and- first of all – Giambattista Tiepolo who painted two ceilings in celebration of the marriage between Ludovico Rezzonico and Faustina Savorgnan. The chambers of Ca’Rezzonico witnessed spectacular meetings of Venetian aristocracy since then.
Jet in 1810 died the last member of the family and the building changed the owners several times, at some moment it served as Jesuit College. At the turning of 19th century it was purchased by the English painter, Robert Barrett (“Pen”) Browning and used as a residence by his father, the writer Robert Browning, who died there. It was subsequently taken over by Count Lionello Hirschell de Minerbi, a member of the Italian Parliament, who, after lengthy and complex negotiations, sold it to the Venice Town Council in 1935.
Since then the palace hosts the Museum of 18th century Venice. The items sometimes acquired from other museums are arranged to resemble the real, functional interior from the era.
The most spectacular is oversized ballroom by Giorgio Massari with stucco ceiling, gilded chandeliers and lavish furniture by Andrea Brustolon.
The everyday’s life in Venice is shown on the paintings by Francesco Guardi, Pietro Longhi and Canaletto. The recent acquisations include works of Tintoretto, Sebastiano and Marco Ricci and Rosalba. Intersting is the set of frescoes by Giandomenico Tiepolo’s originally painted for the Villa Zianigo near Mestre, the Tiepolo family home.
The upper floor contains two other expositions: Farmacia ai do San Marchi with old ceramic jars and medicine glass, and Pinacoteca Egidio Martini with items from the private donations.
Ca’ Rezzonico
Fondamenta Rezzonico 3136
Phone: 041 241 01 00
Opening Hours:
Wed–Mon
(Nov–Mar) 10am–5pm
(Apr–Oct) 10am–6pm
