The head of the Venetian government was called the Doge. The Doge was elected through a very complicated process. He could do very little by himself. In fact, he was not allowed to open his own mail or receive visitors alone. This was to prevent him from becoming too powerful. Both Venice and Florence were ruled by rich merchants who were determined to limit the power of individual men and families. Therefore, they used complicated voting to prevent vote rigging and multiple councils to spread the power of office. Venetians and their visitors were impressed by the beauty of the city. They admired its canals, richly adorned buildings, thriving economy and diverse population. Art, architecture and sculpture were paid for to enhance the image of the republic. Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Sansovino and Palladio all produced works that glorified Venice. Priuli said that Venice appeared to be ‘built more by divine will than human hand’.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. What does the image of Juno and Venice tell us about how Venice wanted to be seen? 2. Discuss how this painting shows the link between mythology and political propaganda in Venice? 3. Why might Venice be represented as a woman in this artwork?
SOURCE5 Juno bestowing gifts on Venice by Paolo Veronese, 1553–1554. The figure above is the ancient Roman goddess Juno and she is showering gifts on Venice, who is represented as a woman.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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