Sumptuous serenissima Venice – Italy

Heiress of long centuries of domination over the Mediterranean, 18th century Venice has lost its political and commercial power and influence. However, the artists’ production remains at the forefront. A great energy animates social life. Official celebrations, opera, theatre, sumptuous receptions, varied entertainment punctuate everyday life and surprise foreigners passing through.

The exhibition is a tribute to this page in the artistic history of the serenissima, in every respect remarkable, through the choice of the most significant paintings, sculptures, drawings and objects as well as the presence of actors, dancers and musicians performing in situ every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 10pm in « Éclats nocturnes » (except on Wednesday 26 December and 2 January 2019).

The « pulsating heart » of Venice is certainly St. Mark’s Square – considered the most elegant « Salon » in Europe-, surrounded by works of inestimable value: the imposing Campanile and the Basilica with its five portals, marbled decorations and mosaics that reflect the splendour and richness of the interior spaces; the Ducal Palace, symbol of the Golden Age of the Serenissima; the Moorish Tower, more particularly known as the Clock Tower, for its masterpiece of engineering that has marked the time of Venice for centuries; the Napoleonic wing, which houses the Correr Museum.

Many cafés overlook the square, including the wonderful « Caffé Florian » which, opened in 1720, is one of the oldest coffees in Italy.

Its very elegant interior spaces are enriched by stuccoes, frames and mirrors. Among the famous customers who sat at his tables were Giacomo Casanova, Lord Byron, Ugo Foscolo and Gabriele d’Annunzio.

Near St. Mark’s Square, we find the Campo Santo Stefano, with the homonymous church.

In full light

This exhibition is organized by the Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais, with the collaboration of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, Venice, and the participation of the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris, the Gérard Philipe theatres in Saint Denis and La Criée in Marseille, the Pavillon Bosio, école supérieure d’Arts plastiques de la Ville de Monaco, and the Digital Humanities Laboratory at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.

Glare Venice !
Venice, the arts and Europe in the 18th century
From 26 September 2018 to 21 January 2019 at the Grand Palais