Palazzo Ducale, Venezia

Speranza



The echanting style of Venice's "Palazzo Ducale", which set the mode for the palaces of the aristocratic Venetian families, has no counterpart elsewhere in Italy (or the world, for that matter).

The whole scheme of columned and pointed arcading combined with a long, sweeping, horizontal movement makes up that unique and magical combination of Gothic detail and classical line known as "Venetian Gothic".

The stury aspect of the second tier of arcades is an essential part of the design, for only thus could the huge upper storey of unbroken wall space appear to rest on a sufficiently solid support.

The facciata was built between 1424 and 1442 to the design of Pietro Bascio and Filippo Calendario.

Although the pointed arch is the most conspicuous feature of the composition, the Doge's palace is NOT Gothinc in the "northern" sense.

There is no approach to the constructional system of pier, arch and buttress; the mouldings are of extreme simplicity; the cusps of the tracery are square-ended and each is fancifully adorned with a gay little ball of red marble.

Moreover, the carving of the capitals is unform throughout and thus the design presents a seeminly infinite succession of the same features in shaft and tracery.

This effect -- alien to true Gotchi, the essence of which is diversity -- demonstrates the compelling power and beauty of perfect regularity as convincingly as any work of classical antiquity.

The regularity creates a delightful harmony between the roundels, the curving ogees and pointed arches, and the rectilinear shapes of the geometrical pavings of Istrian limestone stretched like a carpet beside the Palazzo.