Ca’ d’Oro, Venice (1421-1437) Flashcards
Q: Who commissioned the Ca’ d’Oro, and who were the architects?
A: Marino Contarini commissioned the Ca’ d’Oro. Architects included Giovanni Bon, his son Bartolomeo Bon, and Matteo Raverti (stonemason).
Q: When was the Ca’ d’Oro built?
A: Between 1421-1437.
Q: Where is the Ca’ d’Oro located?
A: In the Cannaregio district, on the north bank of the Grand Canal, opposite the fish market and near the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
Q: What was the intended function of the Ca’ d’Oro?
A: It was a casa-fondaco, serving as both a residence and a trading warehouse, reflecting the patron’s mercantile background.
Q: What restrictions existed in Venice on naming palaces?
A: Only residences of the Doge, the Patriarch of Grado, and the Bishop of Venice could be called “Palazzi”; others were called “Ca’” or “Casa.”
Q: How did the dowry of Marino Contarini’s first wife contribute to the Ca’ d’Oro?
A: Soradamore Zeno’s dowry likely funded the construction, and the palace served as a monument to her memory after her death.
Q: What architectural style is the Ca’ d’Oro associated with?
A: Venetian Floral Gothic.
Q: How does the Ca’ d’Oro reflect Venetian Gothic traditions?
A: It uses marble bas-relief plaques, colored marble columns, and ogee arches, continuing the legacy of Venetian Gothic palaces.
Q: What influence does the Doge’s Palace have on the design of the Ca’ d’Oro?
A: The trilobed ogee arches and intricate loggias echo the Doge’s Palace, symbolizing Contarini’s elite status.
Q: What role did Zuan di Franza play in the Ca’ d’Oro’s decoration?
A: He was a French painter tasked with gilding and painting ultramarine blue details on the façade, creating a vibrant, polychromatic effect.
Q: Describe the ground-level plan of the Ca’ d’Oro.
A: 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.
Q: 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.
Q: How were servants accommodated in the Ca’ d’Oro?
A: Their quarters were located in a mezzanine under the roof.
Q: What decorative features are prominent on the Ca’ d’Oro façade?
A: Pointed Gothic arches, pendent tracery, rope moldings, dogtooth patterns, and alternating red and gray marble squares.
Q: How was the façade gilded and painted?
A: Using white lead and oil for sheen, red Verona marble details were oiled, and gilded balls, lions, and rope moldings were highlighted with ultramarine blue backgrounds.
