Palazzo Ducale Venice

This is a fine, concise survey of the Palazzo Ducale's main rooms and main painters--Tintoretto, Veronese, and, surprisingly, Hireronymus Bosch--the passage through a long tunnel to the other world, but also a triptych of three saints. A lovely Tiepolo showing wealth poured into the lap of Lady Venice. There's also an 18C map painted by Menescardi which features John Cabot--Cabotto the Genovese or possibly Neapolitan--in Venetian dress. There's a wonderful Veronese of the Rape of Europa by Jove as a Bull; the bull is licking Europa's foot as she sits on his back.
But the Consiglio dei Dieci, the advisors that began by saving the Republic from an aristocratic coup, the ones who over the years hung numerous important men accused of treason, including 17 one fine morning hung between the two columns leading to Piazza San Marco.
The Council of the Ten. Why are there 17 seats to accomodate the ten? Well, the Doge and his six close advisors also sat on it. It's sheer serendipity the the Council hung the same number as the sitting members.… (mehr)