The Accademia Gallery of Venice

The Accademia Gallery of Venice is a museum gallery of pre-19th century. Situated on the south bank of the Grand Canal, within the sestiere of Dorsoduro, it gives its name to one of the three bridges across the canal, the Ponte dell’Accademia. It was originally created as an art school. By the 18th century, while Venice had a thriving artist community, her painters were still members of a guild of manual artisans, unlike other major capitol cities, there was no formal Academy of art.

However, plans moved slowly in 18th century Venice. A decree by the Venetian Senate sought the formation of an Accademy. But not till December 1766 did the senate order without delay the erection of an Academy of sculpture, painting, and civil architecture that would be similar to those in the Principal (cities) of Italy and Europe.Among the works on display are the likes of Giorgione, Giovanniti Bellini, Vittore Carpaccio, Tintoretto and Titian. t also houses other forms of art such as sculptures and drawings, including the famous “Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo da Vinci (shown only on special occasions). In the mid-nineteenth century, Franz Joseph, bought for the gallery works such as the “San Giorgio” by Mantegna, “Portrait of a young man” by Hans Memling and the “Old” by Giorgione. Under the direction of Cantalamessa came the “Madonna and Child” by Cosmè Tura, the “Sacred Conversation” by Palma il Vecchio and two early works by Giambattista Tiepolo.

The direction of Gino Fogolari (from 1905) assured the museum other key masterpieces such as “The Tempest” by Giorgione and works of Luca Giordano and Bernardo Strozzi. After the World Wars, the acquisition of new works resumed: in 1949 Guido Cagnola donated a sketch of Canaletto, while in the seventies came the works of Francesco Guardi and Alessandro Longhi. In the early eighties Valcanover claimed, for the le Accademia Gallery of Venice, some thirty works recovered by Rodolfo Siviero in Germany and other countries, which still remain in the deposits of the Pitti Palace in Florence, however, he managed to get only eight paintings, including some works by Giovanni Antonio Guardi, Canaletto and Sebastiano Ricci.