Venice has recently rediscovered works by Giambattista Tiepolo.
Through various exhibitions, you can also rediscover this renowned artist.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to the artist who changed the face of Venice forever.
Tiepolo Venice: article summary
Venice: Tiepolo's playground
Giambattista Tiepolo was born in Castello in 1696. His home is still indicated today. You can find it, thanks to a commemorative epigram, in the courtyard of San Domenico.
His paintings can be admired in churches, historic buildings, museums and even hotels. Tiepolo can safely be considered one of the artists, if not the first on the list, more present in the city of Venice.
The Venetian 18th century
This painter lived through a paradoxical period for the city. The Venetian 18th century can be divided into two major aspects: on the one hand, a politico-economic collapse that began with the exclusion from the main trade routes after the discovery of America and was perpetuated by a series of often useless and unsuccessful war campaigns.
On the other, an unexpected artistic blossoming that brought the Serenissima back to the center of the cultural scene. This will come to an end with the 1797 Treaty of Campoformio and the end of the Republic. This period saw the birth in Venice of some of the most interesting cultural figures of the time. It was the century of Tiepolo, Canaletto, Goldoni and Vivaldi.
It's hard to place this painter in any particular artistic movement. His works combine the swirling, dynamic lines of 17th-century Baroque with the pastel colors of Rococo. He is therefore a one-of-a-kind artist.
Tiepolo across Europe
Tiepolo was a highly regarded artist throughout Europe, not just in Venice. For this reason, he first exported his art to Northern Italy, then to Central and Northern Europe, notably to to Germany, and finally to the Court of Charles III of Spain in Madrid.
An artist contested and desired by all the realities that managed to come into contact with him, particularly in the city of Venice, which he greatly influenced by bringing a new idea of painting, introducing rococo to the floating city.
Works on display at San Rocco
The San Polo district is home to two very special places to admire this artist: the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and Palazzo Papadopoli.
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of the city's most interesting cultural structures. Famous for being the artistic miracle of Tintoretto, the establishment also houses works by other painters, including Tiepolo.
The Palazzo Papadopoli is perhaps the most unusual place to see a painter's work. This 16th-century palace is now home to the Hotel Aman Canal Grande, a flagship hotel that even boasts the distinction of being one of only 2 7-star hotels in Italy.
Tiepolo and the Gesuati order in Venice
Tiepolo's great work in Venice is the church of Santa Maria del Rosario. The gigantic architectural structure, designed by Giorgio Massari in the first part of the 18th century, contains frescoes by Tiepolo celebrating the Madonna del Rosario and San Domenico.
The construction of a new, larger church provided Tiepolo and many artists of the time with a new and impressive stage in which to work. Piazzetta, Bonazza and Torretti are just a few of those who took part in the project. a project that is still much appreciated and photographed today.
Paintings at the Academy and the Scalzi
The Accademia galleries are the largest collection of Venetian art in the world. He was also the first director of this very important city institution, which still survives today, testifying to the importance of this artist.
To the Gallerie dell'AccademiaHere we find some of the painter's paintings, such as Apollo and Marsyas and the Abduction of Europa, but above all the frescoes in the Scalzi church.
During your visit to Venice, I encourage you to follow in Tiepolo's footsteps. You'll discover unique works that have marked the city's history. Plunge into an artistic journey that takes you back to the beginnings of rococo in Venice.
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