Ca d'Oro Flashcards
(31 cards)
date
1421-1437.
architect
Bartolomeo and Giovanni bon
patron
Marino Contarini
who decorated facade
Zuan di Franza
a French painter tasked with gilding and painting ultramarine blue details on the façade, creating a vibrant, polychromatic effect.
How did the dowry of Marino Contarini’s first wife contribute to the Ca’ d’Oro
Soradamore Zeno’s dowry likely funded the construction, and the palace served as a monument to her memory after her death.
Name of contarini’s first wife
Soradamore Zeno
why did contarini commission it
-His wife, died only five years later, and he probably intended his magnificent new palace to serve as a monument to her memory
-as a trading house
-function as a casa fondaco
-to show his status as a prominent venetian (his family boasted 3 doges)
Where is the Ca’ d’Oro located?
In the Cannaregio district, on the north bank of the Grand Canal, opposite the fish market and near the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
location was practical for the needs of the patron who was a merchant and used the palace as a warehouse.
intended function of the Ca’ d’Oro?
It was a casa-fondaco, serving as both a residence and a trading warehouse, reflecting the patron’s mercantile background.
What restrictions existed in Venice on naming palaces?
Only residences of the Doge, the Patriarch of Grado, and the Bishop of Venice could be called “Palazzi”; others were called “Ca’” or “Casa.”
What influence does the Doge’s Palace have on the design of the Ca’ d’Oro?
The trilobed ogee arches and intricate loggias echo the Doge’s Palace, symbolizing Contarini’s elite status.
What architectural style is the Ca’ d’Oro associated with?
Venetian Floral Gothic
How does the Ca’ d’Oro reflect Venetian Gothic traditions?
-marble bas-relief plaques
-colored marble columns
-ogee arches
(continuing the legacy of Venetian Gothic palaces.)
intricate tracery, polychrome materials, and blend of local and Byzantine influences are hallmarks of Venetian Gothic design.
Describe the ground-level plan of the Ca’ d’Oro.
It includes a C-shaped layout with an androne (long hall) used as a water gate, storage rooms, and offices. The land entrance leads to a walled courtyard with a well and a staircase to the piano nobile.
ANDRONE
*The androne often also held stables for horses and mules
*On either side of the androne were offices and a storage room for merchandise
COURTYARD
-exterior courtyard which surrounds a large well – a vital source of fresh water. This also contains a staircase leading up to the first piano nobile.
-This courtyard also lets light and air into the centre of the building
DESCRIPTION OF FIRST PIANO NOBILE
A loggia on the first piano nobile lets light and air into the building and offered residents fabulous views of life on the grand canal. It also allowed people on the canal to glimpse life within the palace, particularly when candles were lit at night.
DESCRIPTION OF SECOND PIANO NOBILE
second piano nobile was very similar to the first and probably designed as a separate apartment for one of Contarini’s brothers. It was very common for several members of a family to live in the same palace in separate apartments.
How were servants accommodated in the Ca’ d’Oro?
Their quarters were located in a mezzanine under the roof.
What decorative features are prominent on the Ca’ d’Oro façade?
-Pointed Gothic arches
-pendent tracery
-rope moldings
- dogtooth patterns,
- alternating red and gray marble squares.
WHAT WERE CLASSICAL FEATURES ON THE FACADE
*The Watergate is articulated by a wide central elliptical arch flanked by four narrower pointed arches. These arches are supported by Corinthian columns.
What challenges did Venetian architects face in terms of lighting?
A: Narrow canals and tightly packed buildings required large windows and open loggias to maximize natural light.
How was the façade gilded and painted?
-white lead and oil for sheen
-red Verona marble details were oiled
-gilded balls, lions, and rope moldings were highlighted with ultramarine blue backgrounds.
hat is the symbolic significance of the façade’s tripartite design?
It represents the Venetian aesthetic of combining materials, light, and water reflections to create a “kaleidoscopic” effect.
FACADE IS LOOSELY ORGANISED IN A TRIPARTATE PLAN
What materials and techniques were used for the foundations?
piles of Istrian pine were driven into the lagoon bed, topped with alternating layers of Istrian stone and brick to prevent dampness and ensure stability.
How did Venetian builders ensure the structure floated on the lagoon?
By fully submerging wooden piles to petrify them, providing a stable platform for construction.
