It was the Autumn of 1510 when Giorgio da Castelfranco, known as Giorgione (1447-1510), died in Venice. And it is just to celebrate the fifth centenary of his death that Giorgione has been chosen to represent the opening to the public of Palazzo Grimani as permanent museum, with an exhibition of three of his works of art.

Palazzo Grimani, located in Campo Santa Maria Formosa, was bought in 1981 by the Italian Government. We have to wait till 2008 though to see its opening as a museum of its interiors, and of a few well selected works of art. It is with this last exhibition however that the palace finally opens its doors to the public every day, as the admissions in the past have been permitted only upon booking.

The exhibition, which can be considered the main homage from the city to the artist, can name among its protagonists the most famous paintings by Giorgione. The paintings selected for the occasion are The Old Woman (1506), originally at the Gallerie dell’Accademia, La Nuda (The Naked Lady, 1508), one of the frescoes at the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, and Giorgione’s masterpiece The Tempest (1507-08), temporary moved from the Gallerie dell’Accademia and considered the most enigmatic painting by the artist. Back