The house of gold

In 1406 a young Venetian nobleman, Marin Contarini, married into another ancient patrician clan. His wife's family owned an old palace on the Grand Canal. Contarini demolished the old palace and, in 1421, began to build the Ca d'Oro, his 'House of Gold'. This book tells the history of the building of the palace over a period of nearly twenty years. After a general introduction to the city of Venice at the beginning of the quattrocento, Dr Goy discusses the background to.

The building of the palace, including Contarini's motives and the role of his father, a high-ranking government official. There then follows a discussion of the building industry in Venice in this flourishing period, and of the functions of the three chief building crafts - masons, carpenters and builders. In the latter half of the study, the whole building process is re-created in detail, from laying bricks to terrazzo and metalwork, with particular emphasis on the.

Stonework of the magnificent facade. The relationships between Contarini and his craftsmen are analysed, as is the pivotal role of Contarini himself, the architect manque whose monument this was to become. The author concludes by discussing the architectural importance of the palace and its historic legacy.