PALAZZO GRASSI

Description

Essentials about Palazzo Grassi in brief

Located on the banks of the Grand Canal, Palazzo Grassi is one of the most beautiful palaces in Venice. The palazzo was commissioned by the Grassi family from the famous architect Giorgio Massari, who also built the Ca’ Rezzonico opposite. Today, Palazzo Grassi is a focal point for lovers of modern art. In fact, since 2006 the palace has been owned by the French multi-billionaire François-Henri Pinault, who exhibits there his collection of modern art, consisting of over 2,000 works by contemporary artists of all styles.

The architecture of Palazzo Grassi

The architecture of Palazzo Grassi is a mixture of late Baroque and Classicism. The architecture of the façade consists of three levels, the lower of which, with its mezzanine floor and rusticated stones, harks back to 15th and 16th century buildings. The side entrances of the tripartite portal zone, in the style of a Venetian window, are surmounted by coats of arms. The piano nobile consists essentially of nine round-arched windows reaching to the floor with small balconies in front of them; the central windows form a group of five.

This is repeated on the upper floor, which, however, is distinguished from the middle level of the facade by its rectangular windows with triangular and round pediments above. Overall, the facade is much less sculpted than most of the earlier palazzi of northern Italy. This can also be well observed in the barely articulated side facade, which also has a tripartite portal with Venetian window above.