About the Work
The Ca’ d’Oro is the most famous of the more than 200 palaces lining the Canal Grande on both sides. Even today, a ride down the main waterway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Venice. Captured in a frontal view from the canal and for the most part isolated from its surroundings, the façade offers an opportunity for in-depth study of the architectural details. The rich decoration, complete with colonnades, tracery, and reliefs, is distinct down to the tiniest detail. The objective character of the view is underscored by the text on the back, which provides basic information on the building and its owners in a few sentences. By accompanying his prints with remarks of this kind in at least two languages, Carlo Ponti catered to a broad public—not only tourists but also exponents of the young discipline of art history.
