Venice, Italy
Statue of Laocoon and his sons at the Palazzo Grimani di Santa Maria Formosa ( not the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca on the Grand Canal).
The statue of Laocoön and His Sons, also called the Laocoön Group, has been one of the most famous ancient sculptures ever since it was excavated in Rome in 1506 and placed on public display in the Vatican, where it remains. The figures are near life-size and the group is a little over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height, showing the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being attacked by sea serpents.
General History:
Originally the residence of the Venetian doge Antonio Grimani, it was rebuilt in 1532-1569 by his heirs Vittore, procuratore generale of the city, and Giovanni Grimani, cardinal and Patriarch of Aquileia. The latter allegedly collaborated with Michele Sanmicheli, who had been usually credited as the designer of the whole construction. Others suggest that architects such as Jacopo Sansovino, and Sebastiano Serlio e Andrea Palladio were involved. The palace was completed in 1575 by Giovanni Rusconi. Alessandro Vittoria was responsible for the ornamentation of the doorway.
The building was substantially altered and given a classical stamp.
The palace has a three part composition with a small backyard. The façade, sporting characteristical massive windows arches, is decorated with polychrome marble.
The decoration of the rooms is of extraordinarily high quality, with outstanding stuccowork and frescoes reflecting the confidently unconventional taste of the Grimanis. The most striking feature of the interior is the Sala di Psiche (c. 1540), with frescoes by Francesco Menzocchi, Camillo Mantovano and Francesco Salviati. Other Mannerist artists who worked to the palace's decoration include Taddeo Zuccari and Giovanni da Udine.
The palace once held the collections amassed by Cardinal Domenico Grimani and Giovanni Grimani and were displayed in a high ceiling room: the Tribune. These were donated to the Republic.
Venice, Italy
Statue of Laocoon and his sons at the Palazzo Grimani di Santa Maria Formosa ( not the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca on the Grand Canal).
The statue of Laocoön and His Sons, also called the Laocoön Group, has been one of the most famous ancient sculptures ever since it was excavated in Rome in 1506 and placed on public display in the Vatican, where it remains. The figures are near life-size and the group is a little over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height, showing the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being attacked by sea serpents.
General History:
Originally the residence of the Venetian doge Antonio Grimani, it was rebuilt in 1532-1569 by his heirs Vittore, procuratore generale of the city, and Giovanni Grimani, cardinal and Patriarch of Aquileia. The latter allegedly collaborated with Michele Sanmicheli, who had been usually credited as the designer of the whole construction. Others suggest that architects such as Jacopo Sansovino, and Sebastiano Serlio e Andrea Palladio were involved. The palace was completed in 1575 by Giovanni Rusconi. Alessandro Vittoria was responsible for the ornamentation of the doorway.
The building was substantially altered and given a classical stamp.
The palace has a three part composition with a small backyard. The façade, sporting characteristical massive windows arches, is decorated with polychrome marble.
The decoration of the rooms is of extraordinarily high quality, with outstanding stuccowork and frescoes reflecting the confidently unconventional taste of the Grimanis. The most striking feature of the interior is the Sala di Psiche (c. 1540), with frescoes by Francesco Menzocchi, Camillo Mantovano and Francesco Salviati. Other Mannerist artists who worked to the palace's decoration include Taddeo Zuccari and Giovanni da Udine.
The palace once held the collections amassed by Cardinal Domenico Grimani and Giovanni Grimani and were displayed in a high ceiling room: the Tribune. These were donated to the Republic.