The Doge

The Doge was the chief magistrate at the time of the Serenissima. The word 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 office of the Doge arises in 700. A Doge had economic, civil, and religious power that made him in some way similar to a Pope or a King.

When the doge was elected, he was presented to Venetians then 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) has 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"(?) and for that reason he assumed the nickname "Tintoretto". He was 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.
He 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 is a certain way an Impressionism ante-litteram.

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's 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 momumental White House in Washington, official residence of the President, takes inspiration from Palladio's architecture.

JOHN RUSKIN

John Ruskin's life (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 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 playwrighters. 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 that time morality. 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 from Venice exiled. During those years he voyaged 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 was seventeen years old when she fell in love with Casanova for seven years, the daughter of two actors. 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'Urfè 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 his 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 Belle Arti 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, 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

ICON OF TRANSGRESSION.

Patty Pravo was born in Venice from 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 to sing.
Her popularity in Italy increased at the end of 60's when she singed "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 came back to sing, 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.