Venice is probably the most photographed and photogenic city in the world. Known for its iconic architecture and magical townscape, it has been captured by many photographers over the years and been a place of artistic inspiration for centuries.
Photography plays a large role in the history of Venice, capturing its cultural heritage before the arrival of mass tourism. In the late 19th century Venice had gone through many political, economical and cultural changes. With the Italian Unification in 1861 it was a city that was striving to recover from an unstable political history.
The advancement of photography happened simultaneously and meant that the unique architectural gems of Venice were captured by renowned international photographers. Many of their photographs are held in RIBA’s Collection and some shown here alongside contemporary views.
The uniqueness of early Venice photography is the number of people within the frame. Unlike today, with the impact of mass tourism bleeding into the shot, these photos reveal a more solemn Venice. The removal of human form and souvenir stalls allow the viewer to focus solely on the architectural details, appreciating the composition and form of the subject.
Ca 'd'Oro, Grand Canal
One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic, the Ca 'd'Oro is located in the Cannaregio district overlooking the Grand Canal. The architects were Giovanni Bon and his son Bartolomeo Bon. The name of the building, translated to ‘House of Gold’, derived from the gold leaf trim that adorns its façade.
The architectural details of Ca 'd'Oro reveal a subtle transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style. The marble patterns, the walls around the windows and the balconies are indicative of the late Gothic period, while the colonnade facing the canal and the small square windows on the right side of the building are more Renaissance in form.
The Ca ‘d’Oro has today been transformed and restored into a museum, housing the art collection of its late owner Baron Giorgio Franchetti, who donated the building and the collection to the Italian State.
Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace
Surrounded by canals, Palazzo Ducale started out as a fortress before becoming the headquarters for the old Venetian government. Over the years the architecture has adapted and it is now one of the finest buildings in Venice.
A Venetian Gothic masterpiece, the palace took its present day form between 1339 and 1342. In 1442, the architects Giovanni Bon and his son Bartolomeo added the Porta della Carta, the main entrance to the palace.
The ground floor is a covered loggia (corridor), defined by an arcade of pointed arches. The second level contains an open balcony, featuring a prominent railing and pointed arches with quatrefoils (a clover-leaf decorative element) rhythmically displayed. A stone wall encloses the third and upper level, with a row of large-pointed windows punctuating the façade.
Palazzo Ducale is unique with the solid wall above and the open loggias below. Most palaces have this the other way round. With a rhythmic sense of order and repetition of gothic arches and quatrefoils, the details on the architecture are captivating and aesthetically pleasing.
Basilica of San Marco
Located in Piazza San Marco (St Marks Square) next to the Palazzo Ducale, the Basilica of San Marco has historically been the centre of public and religious life. It became the cathedral of Venice in 1807.
The Basilica began construction in 1063. Originally built in the Byzantine style – to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic – it now features a unique blend of architectural styles added over the years. These include pointed Gothic arches, 17th- and 18th-century sculptures and the horses of St Mark. With five domes, the Greek cross base houses more than 4,000 square metres of mosaics, mostly originating from the 13th century.
Ponte di Rialto, or Rialto Bridge
This stone arch bridge over the Grand Canal is the oldest in Venice. Originally built in 1181 as a pontoon bridge, its design adapted from wood to stone to accommodate the increased traffic. In 1551, a call for a new bridge design was issued and some of the leading architects at the time put forward ideas, including Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, Andrea Palladio and Michelangelo. Their designs were not successful as they included several arches, which would hinder the river traffic. The chosen single span design was by the Swiss-born Venetian architect and engineer Antonio da Ponte.
Today Rialto Bridge is a key destination for tourists to visit. Pedestrians can access the bridge via two inclined ramps with shops on either side and three walkways leading to a central portico.
Palazzo Dario, Grand Canal
The 500-year-old palace, Palazzo Dario, was built in 1479 by the aristocrat Giovanni Dario, secretary of the Venetian senate. The details of the façade and the building's composition are in the Gothic style. There is a visible tilt to the right due to its foundations being constructed over an old Templar cemetery. Other notable features include a neo-Gothic balcony on the second floor, which was added in the 19th century.
Fratelli Alinari
This photograph is taken by renowned studio Fratelli Alinari. Established in Florence in 1854 by brothers Leopoldo, Giuseppe, and Romualdo Alinari, their reputation grew for capturing views of historic monuments and panoramas of cities. They gained popularity with Italian royalty and this extended to England with Prince Albert commissioning photographs of artwork.
Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore (Il Redentore The Redeemer)
This church was commissioned by the Senate to mark the impact of the plague, which devastated Venice from 1575-77. Andrea Palladio was the appointed architect. However, he died in 1580 after which his foreman Antonio da Ponte completed the design as originally proposed.
Located on the island of Giudecca, across the lagoon from the Palazzo Ducale and Piazza San Marco, it is one of the most recognised churches of Venice. It is also the centrepiece of one of the city’s key public celebrations, the Feast of the Redentore, on the third Sunday of July, when a pontoon is built to bridge Giudecca with Zatterre, enabling people to come together and celebrate this festival.
The architectural elements and composition of the building is recognisably by the architect Andrea Palladio with a number of triangular gables fragmented over the façade, supported by columns and united by a horizontal band. The mouldings and sculpture on the outside of the building add more ecclesiastical detail.
Discover 7 Contemporary Creatives and their Inspirations
Meet the creative minds partnering with Google Arts & Culture on a journey into the archives
As part of a series introducing today's strongest and most innovative voices, Google Arts & Culture asked makers to respond to online collections.
Scroll on to meet the creators, see their responses to the digital material available on Google Arts & Culture, and, in their own words, discover where influencers find their inspiration.
Charlotte Ager
"I am an Illustrator based in London who works on a real variety of projects. I love capturing place and bringing a sense of narrative to spaces."
"I wanted to use this brief to explore some of the locations on the Heritage on the Edge project on Google Arts and Culture because I found the way they were presented very moving. We often just see photos of them as tourist attractions in all their glory but don't comprehend the threat they face."
"These places hold such value and power for people and yet are extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change than humans ourselves have failed to tackle."
"I personally feel like artwork can help us communicate in a really important way in our contemporary lives. It can catch our attention in our days which are so full of information and demands, presenting important issues with emotion and care."
Vincent Bal
"I’m a Belgian filmmaker and shadowologist. That means I make images with the shadows of everyday objects."
"Usually when I make a new image, I let chance guide me and I see what shows up in the shadows."
"The works I chose are all works by artists I love. Vermeer is the master of light. I love his work; so delicate! It was a very humbling experience to respond to these greats."
Nina Cosford
"I'm a freelance illustrator based in the southeast of England. My work typically centres around female narratives and telling both everyday and lesser-known stories in an accessible, relatable or humorous way."
"In my work for GA&C, I was particularly inspired by a Zaha Hadid quotation. I think it's a timeless message that applies to almost all areas of life and especially within the creative industries."
"The second piece I made was in response to the "female frontier of space" - a selection of trailblazing women who broke down barriers within the realm of space exploration."
"Now, more than ever, people are turning to art for everything - comfort, humour, inspiration and entertainment. Art is one of the most accessible and universal mediums which also has the power to change or challenge the way we think and feel."
"During the current pandemic and the ongoing political climate, art reminds us of what it is to be human."
Art History Fashion
"I am a Product Designer in the tech industry with a background in art history. I started my Instagram project as a continuation of my interest in using technology to make art history more relatable. Art history isn’t only learned through lectures and textbooks!"
"I wanted to showcase a range of how pronounced art history influence can be in fashion. A very striking homage was John Paul Gaultier's Frida Kahlo collection."
“A more subtle influence is found in the Abstract Expressionism-inspired fashion recalling the works of Helen Frankenthaler and Joan Mitchell. I felt like it was important to note the techniques that Frankenthaler and Mitchell pioneered could be found on many fashion pieces today.”
"As Robert Motherwell put it: "Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it." Art is an integral, very human means of expression."
Women of History
"I’m Dena Sutphin, the producer of @Women_ofhistory on Instagram and a PhD student in history. I primarily work on the modern Middle East, but my Instagram account aims to shine a spotlight on the lives and experiences of women throughout world history."
"Working with Google Arts & Culture as a Cultural Maker allowed me to continue in my account’s mission of sharing women’s history through beautiful imagery and thorough research. Two posts in particular, one on Frida Kahlo and one on Queen Sirikit of Thailand, allowed me to take advantage of the museum resources."
"In crafting posts that I thought would appeal to my readers, I chose exciting topics like Eleanor Roosevelt’s time as United States delegate to the United Nations. This story allowed me to highlight Eleanor’s active role in United States politics and humanitarianism, despite often being remembered only for her role as First Lady."
"Similarly, the visually stunning wardrobe of Queen Sirikit of Thailand helped me tell the story of a Thai queen involved in crafting a modern Thai identity that blended tradition with modernity."
Brown History
"My name is Ahsun and I own a popular Instagram account called @BrownHistory which explores South Asian history, culture and arts. I grew up in Canada and wanted to learn more about my roots so I decided to create this account as an excuse to research and learn more about the history of my origins. It's almost like I am having a conversation with myself."
"I usually try to find content that either surprises people or makes them move or feel something, such as these works by Gaganendranath Tagore, a painter and a satirical cartoonist."
"He was openly anticolonial and his caricatures satirized Bengali "babus" and their "bibis" which were derogatory terms used for natives trying to be Westernized. Tagore also displayed the hypocrisy and corruption of the upper class at the time."
"Social Media is everything at the moment. I think it's our number one source for news, culture, and what is cool and isn't. Through art, culture, and social media, I want to make something that takes people in visually and, when they read the caption, they feel their curiosity rewarded."
Lucy Litman
"I'm Lucy! I'm originally from Minnesota, but have been in the Bay Area the past few years. I call myself an all-purpose creative - I do a little bit of everything, but mainly just try and have fun and be honest in the work that I do."
"A lot of my work centers around mental health, so for the GA&C brief I wanted to select quotes and images that related to using art as a way to express yourself and share parts of yourself."
"I've always loved space, and the idea of looking up to the sky and feeling small, so I love James Turrell. I love how he juxtaposes his work with vivid colors, natural light/settings and is able to integrate a unique human experience into all of them."
"I think social media allows for art to be seen, viewed, and appreciated by more people. For example - Turrell's work is located all around the world in places I'll likely not be able to visit, but on social media, i'm able to find photos and videos that bring those places right to me."
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the most important art galleries in the world. It presents over 700 works of European painting from the 14th to 18th centuries, including one of the largest collections of paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Peter Paul Rubens.