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Affresco Pietro Longhi
Standing above the stairs is a magnificent fresco by Pietro Longhi from 1734. The work covers the ceiling and extends halfway down the walls. It represents the “Fall of the Giants” defeated by Jupiter, who appears above armed with lightening bolts.
Pietro Longhi (Venice 1702 – Venice 1785)
Pietro Falca, called Longhi, started out painting altarpieces. In 1734 he completed the frescos for the staircase at Ca’ Sagredo (the depiction of the “Fall of the Giants” is important). For a certain period of time he abandoned the religious, historical and mythological subjects which had made him successful, and dedicated himself to rural scenes inspired by Flemish painting. Later, he reproduced scenes of English and French salons, with peaceful colours and detail-filled composition (“The dance lesion”, “The toilet” and “The tailor”). But his painting was destined to continue to change: from the beginning of the 1760’s the shades became brownish and the prospective lines imprecise. He is believed to have knowingly made this decision in an attempt to follow a Rembrandt-type style. In 1763 he became director of the Accademia Pisani del Disegno e dell’Intaglio. He began his portrait painting activity during this period. He died after a brief illness in May 1785.
Pietro Longhi (Venice 1702 – Venice 1785)
Pietro Falca, called Longhi, started out painting altarpieces. In 1734 he completed the frescos for the staircase at Ca’ Sagredo (the depiction of the “Fall of the Giants” is important). For a certain period of time he abandoned the religious, historical and mythological subjects which had made him successful, and dedicated himself to rural scenes inspired by Flemish painting. Later, he reproduced scenes of English and French salons, with peaceful colours and detail-filled composition (“The dance lesion”, “The toilet” and “The tailor”). But his painting was destined to continue to change: from the beginning of the 1760’s the shades became brownish and the prospective lines imprecise. He is believed to have knowingly made this decision in an attempt to follow a Rembrandt-type style. In 1763 he became director of the Accademia Pisani del Disegno e dell’Intaglio. He began his portrait painting activity during this period. He died after a brief illness in May 1785.
