Day 18. Saturday 17th April
Fully rested we have gathered ourselves for another go at Venice.
Had to start with the Basilica again, there’s just too much to take in on one trip.
Even more amazed by a second visit and we will definitely be back.
A fascinating wander past all the posh designer emporiums and curious little shops selling decoratively printed papers, on our way to the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Specialising in Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century. Amazed to see so many masterpieces in one place and to see paintings so familiar from illustrations, actually in the flesh.
Great paintings have a life, a vibration; they reach out and touch you. Sometimes it’s a gentle caress; sometimes it’s a slap in the face and it can be a blow to the guts. Stupendous collection.
Wander though to the lido side for lunch on a floating pontoon and watch the vast cruise liners discouraging more tourists into the city.
A short walk to the idiosyncratic collection of Peggy Guggenheim.
The gallery was her home in Venice for over 30 years and she is reputed to have slept with many of the artists she collected.
Marvellous modernist paintings, many of which we hadn’t seen before. I was bowled over by a luminous Kandinsky and astounded by the depth of incident in the Pollock’s. Its great to see the Guggenheim continuing the tradition of the great robber barons, by charging an eye watering 12 Euros admission, to a relatively small domestic space, which easily becomes impassably crowded.
One final push onto the Ca’Rezzonico. More worn damask and faded guilt furniture than you can shake a stick at. Large-scale mirrors fogged by age, but, by then, so were we, tired and weary, we headed home. Intercepted by a procession of real live Venetians.Dressed head to toe in what looked like several old pairs of my mams curtains, wandering listlessly along to accompaniment of a doleful drumbeat, its no wonder their a shrinking populace.
Fully rested we have gathered ourselves for another go at Venice.
Had to start with the Basilica again, there’s just too much to take in on one trip.
Even more amazed by a second visit and we will definitely be back.
A fascinating wander past all the posh designer emporiums and curious little shops selling decoratively printed papers, on our way to the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Specialising in Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century. Amazed to see so many masterpieces in one place and to see paintings so familiar from illustrations, actually in the flesh.
Great paintings have a life, a vibration; they reach out and touch you. Sometimes it’s a gentle caress; sometimes it’s a slap in the face and it can be a blow to the guts. Stupendous collection.
Wander though to the lido side for lunch on a floating pontoon and watch the vast cruise liners discouraging more tourists into the city.
A short walk to the idiosyncratic collection of Peggy Guggenheim.
The gallery was her home in Venice for over 30 years and she is reputed to have slept with many of the artists she collected.
Marvellous modernist paintings, many of which we hadn’t seen before. I was bowled over by a luminous Kandinsky and astounded by the depth of incident in the Pollock’s. Its great to see the Guggenheim continuing the tradition of the great robber barons, by charging an eye watering 12 Euros admission, to a relatively small domestic space, which easily becomes impassably crowded.
One final push onto the Ca’Rezzonico. More worn damask and faded guilt furniture than you can shake a stick at. Large-scale mirrors fogged by age, but, by then, so were we, tired and weary, we headed home. Intercepted by a procession of real live Venetians.Dressed head to toe in what looked like several old pairs of my mams curtains, wandering listlessly along to accompaniment of a doleful drumbeat, its no wonder their a shrinking populace.
"astounded by the depth of incident in the Pollock’s" - sounds like a bit of a euphemism to me!
ReplyDeleteAnd as for venicians in old curtains! Well what do you expect from a population genuflecting in front of mumified children! Some one should get a grip!
Oh, and there's that bloke again in the snazzy blazer!
ReplyDeleteYes I've spotted him too Hils he starting to pop up a bit regular like now isn't he! Hi Andy my lovely hope you're having a fab time - you're lovely photos with that beautiful smile of yours is so nice to see!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes Hils I couldn't understand a word of Rob's arty farty comments either. Or perhaps you did and I'm that thick I've missed both points!
Fi
x