The Doge

The Doge was the chief magistrate at the time of the Serenissima. The word Doge derives from "dux", the Latin word for "Duke".
In Venice, Doges were elected for life by the city–state's aristocracy. According to historic resources the first Doge was elected in 700. A Doge had economic, civil and religious power that made of him a figure similar to pope or king in some way.
When the doge was elected, he was presented to Venetians at the Ducal Palace in St. Mark’s Square. After the XIII° century power of the Doge reduced; he was, in fact, controlled by other offices which in some ways balanced the politic power.
Century after century, more than a 1000 years, Doges have ruled the city of Venice. The last Doge was Ludovico Manin who lost his power to France when Venice fell under Napoleon's monarchy on May 12, 1797.

PAPA GIOVANNI XXIII

Even the Pope John XXIII (Giovanni Roncalli) had a little bit of history in Venice. He was the Patriarch of Venice from 1953 to 1958.

JACOPO TINTORETTO

Jacopo Tintoretto (1518–1594) was the son of a "tintore" (a craftsman dealing with leather dye) and for that reason he assumed the nickname "Tintoretto". He was a student of Titian and performed his studies as a painter in Venice.
He carefully studied works of Michelangelo and theoretical writings of Sebastiano Serlio.
He was also influenced by the style of Andrea Schiavone and the painting of Parmigianino.
Tintoretto created his first masterpiece in 1548, "The Miracle of St. Mark". The school refused the works judging them too strange. In 1550 he married Faustina de Vescovi and had 2 sons and 5 daughters.

CANALETTO

Canaletto was a Venetian artist that became famous for his innovative landscapes. He is known as a printmaker in etching. Born in Venice on October 28, 1697, son of Bernardo and Artemisia Barbieri, he began his career as a theatrical scene painter.
Later, inspired by Giovanni Paolo Pannini, he started to paint daily life of Venice.
After a temporary stay in Rome he started to paint using his famous topographical style. Canaletto's works are mostly made "open air". He supposedly reproduce reality in his paintings, so he used a so called "camera oscura" to observe very far objects.
Canaletto has become famous thanks to the works representing the Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square.
Due to his new style made of a innovative atmosphere effect away from tradition, his art is considered in a certain way an Impressionism ante-litteram.

VERONESE

Veronese was born in 1528 and died in 1588. He was the last Renaissance artist of Venice, created numerous masterpieces that – both the early and mature ones – have to be considered as Mannerist works. Veronese loved to paint – while giving importance to strong colors and contrasts – Mannerist figures often in contorted poses.
An example of Veronese's style is the Temptation of St. Anthony in the Cathedral of Mantua.
The mature works mostly consist of frescoes realized for civil buildings and villas, mainly in the countryside of Venice, such as Villa Barbaro in Maser.
The fresco made for the villa represents illusory architecture taking inspiration by the style of Palladio who designed the entire building.
His last works presents in a clear way a return to a more classical taste, made of dazzling light, harmonious colours, rigorous compositions. The most remarkable work of that period is the "Triumph of Venice" in the Doges's Palace, in which all the artistic experiences made by Veronese during its activities are clearly shown.

ANDREA PALLADIO

Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) is the most famous Venetian architect. From its name the term "palladiano" (Palladio's style) takes inspiration referring to a style that has to do with Roman and Greek Classicism.
Palladio had designed many churches, villas, urban residences specially in Vicenza.
His most significant works are San Giorgio Maggiore, the villa "La Rotonda" and the Olympic theatre (Vicenza).
He influenced European and American architects. Even the monumental White House in Washington, official residence of the President, takes inspiration from Palladio's architecture.

GIORGIO MASSARI

Giorgio Massari (1687–1766) was one of the most important Venetian architects of his time. He used to combine his classical style with Palladian and baroque elements.
Massari constructed both in civil and religious ambient. Some of his work you can see in Venice are The Grassi Palace and Ca’ Rezzonico (which was started earlier and he finished it). The facade of the Academy of Fine Arts is also part of his work. As far as concerns churches in Venice, he's the constructer of the Chiesa dei Gesuiti, Chiesa di San Marcuola and Chiesa della Pietà.

JOHN RUSKIN

John Ruskin (1819–1900), a famous British writer, poet, painter, historian thinker, is related to Venice for his strong attachment to the city after a voyage made during his youth.
He went for the first time to Italy in 1840 and he was fascinated by the marvellous beauties of the country.
He wrote a diary in which he described also the numerous masterpieces in Venice. Even today, reading John Ruskin's writings is one of the best ways to have an idea of the art beauties in Venice.

CARLO GOLDONI

Carlo Goldoni was born in Venice in 1707. He was first a lawyer, and then a diplomatic in Milan and finally he decided to dedicate himself to theater. Since 1762, he was Italian Theatre's Director in Paris; he wrote a good 150 comedies in several languages (Venetian, Itlalian and French).

Here is a list of his most important comedies:
– La vedova scaltra;
– La bottega del caffè;
– Le smanie per la villeggiatura;
– La locandiera
– Il servitore di due padroni;
– La famiglia dell'antiquario;
– Il burbero benefico;
– I rusteghi;
– La casa nova;
– Il campiello;
– Le baruffe chiazzate;
– Il Ventaglio;
– La serva amorosa;
– Memories (in French)

Goldoni is considered one of the greatest Italian playwriters. His personal idea of "Commedia dell'Arte" was in a certain way revolutionary. According to Goldoni, theater had to reveal real life by representing comic and mocking scenes, bright and double entendre dialogs.
Venice in the XVIII° century was the suitable place in which both nobles, everyday people and beggars are represented. Throughout his comedies, Goldoni showed an intense and keen critic of the morality of that time. He died in Paris in 1793.

CASANOVA

Giacomo Casanova was born in 1725 in Venice, son of a poor actor, Gaetano Casanova and Zanetta Farusso. Casanova was sure that his father wasn't Gaetano but the noble Michele Grimaldi. When he confessed his secret, he was exiled from Venice. During those years he travelled all around Europe.

When he arrived in Dux (Czechoslovakia) he started to work as reference librarian for the Count of Waldenstein. There, he wrote his masterpiece "Storia della mia vita" (History of my life) and it was published only after his death (1798). This work tells the most important events of Casanova's life from his fashionable life in Venice to his long period of exile in Europe.
The most interesting part of Memorie is the one which deals with his getaway from the prisons of Venice, in "Storia della mia fuga dai Piombi". It's a work full of surprises and cliff–hangers, written with an increasing rhythm.
Casanova is especially known for his overwhelming tendency to seduce women by charm, threats, guile, intimidation and aggression leaving children and debts behind.
– Manon Balletti, the daughter of two actors, was seventeen years old when she fell in love with Casanova for seven years. She wrote to the young bachelor several letters in which she declared to him her lovely passion;
– Ester was the granddaughter of a rich merchant from Amsterdam. She gave herself to Casanova only after she got married.
– Henriette was sincerely beloved by Casanova and maybe the most important women in his life; in spite of that, at last, she decided to stop their relationship, leaving him only with parting words written on a paper.
– D'Urféù had an obsession for the Obscure: she wanted to become a man and thought it was possible through an incarnation in a baby. Casanova used her crazy conviction to achieve his purpose.

MARIANO FORTUNY

Mariano Fortuny was born in 1838 in Catalogna. When he was 12 years old, his parents died and his grandfather took care of him.
He recognised immediately artistic skills of his grandson, so he decided to send him to the school Domenèc Soberano.
Two years later Mariano moved to Barcellona and there he obtained a grant for attending the School of Fine Arts thanks to his manual art.
Later, thanks to another financial help, he concluded his studies in Rome in 1858.
When Spain went to war against Morocco, he was nominated to immortalize war's phases; works like "La battaglia di Tatuan" goes back to that period.
During the stay in Morocco he was seriously struck by African's way of life. When he was 18 years old, he moved to Venice where he met people like Gabriele D'Annunzio, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, the marchioness Casati, the prince Fritz Hohenlohe–Waldenburg.

PATTY PRAVO

THE ICON OF TRANSGRESSION.

Patty Pravo was born in Venice in a wealthy family. She's a famous pop singer. During her youth she became friend of poet Ezra Pound and met the cardinal Angelo Roncalli. She studied at a Conservatory but when she was 15 she moved to London and then to Rome where she started singing.
Her popularity in Italy increased at the end of 60's when she sang "Ragazzo triste", the Italian version of "But you're mine" by Sonny Bono.
Year after year she collected important successes such as "La bambola", "Il paradiso", "Sentimento". Around the first half of 70's she wrote famous songs like "Pazza idea" (1973) and "Pensiero stupendo".
During those years Patty Pravo confirmed herself as the symbol of transgression and an imitated trendsetter. Her strange and provocative look made her even more unconventional.
She studied and composed for a while in U.S.A with her boyfriend Paul Martinez. After a long, difficult period (first half of 90's, she was accused of drug dependence), Patty returned to singing, taking part at Sanremo Festival's competition and recording new singles ("E dimmi che non vuoi morire").
Like Gianni Morandi, Mina, Adriano Celentano, Claudio Baglioni, Lucio Battisti, Renato Zero who signed a new pop wave around the Italian musical context, Patty Pravo is today recognized as one of the greatest Italian pop singers.
Patty Pravo differs herself for a much–sought musical taste, always looking for new arrangements having the sweet sound of love.