Correr Museum Venice opening hours. Correr Museum - the great treasury of Venice
Correr Museum (Venice, Italy) - exhibitions, opening hours, address, phone numbers, official website.
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The Correr Museum was founded in 1830 by Abbot Teodoro Correr. It unites several collections under its roof: the Risorgimento Museum (Museo del Risorgemento) - a collection of paintings, weapons and applied art; art gallery on the 3rd floor - paintings of the 12th-17th centuries; Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico) - a collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities. Behind the Archaeological is the entrance to the Main Hall of the Marciana Library, 16th century. Its walls and ceiling are decorated with paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto.
The Correr Museum is rightfully considered the best of the main Venetian divine and historical collections. Its interiors were originally designed as Napoleon's personal chambers.
The exhibition, located in 33 rooms on two floors of the New Procuration, is mainly devoted to the history of Venice. Here you can look at the symbols of the Venetian Republic, portraits, seals, personal belongings of the doges, materials telling about the magnificent city ceremonies, nautical charts, navigational instruments, weapons and banners.
The art gallery occupies 19 halls on the 3rd floor. From the early painting of Venice, attention should be paid to Paolo Veneziano and Lorenzo Veneziano. Among the works of artists of the Flemish school, Pieter Bruegel’s “Adoration of the Magi” stands out. The best painting of the Correr Museum, exhibited in room 11, is Pietà by Antonello da Messina. There are also two more paintings: “The Crucifixion” by Hugo van der Roos and “Madonna and Child” by Bouts. One of the halls displays one of the most famous works of Vittore Carpaccio - “Courtesans”.
The history of Italy is inextricably linked with outstanding artists: artists, sculptors, composers. This largely explains the huge number of different museums, galleries and exhibitions here. The Correr Museum, founded in 1830, has remained one of the most visited attractions in Venice for many years.
What awaits visitors:
The gallery, founded by a collector and simply an ardent admirer of art, Teodoro Correra, annually attracts hundreds of thousands of lovers of high art and curious travelers to its halls. From the first minutes of your stay in the museum, you begin to be amazed by the sophisticated Empire style and the luxury of architectural splendor. It's hard to believe that all this was created by human hands. Sometimes you get the feeling that the masterpieces have always been here, and the museum was simply founded around them to protect them.
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View from the museum façade
Gallery visitors have the opportunity to walk through 33 exhibition halls. All exhibits presented are divided into 3 parts: the history museum, the art gallery and the Risorgimento Museum.
The pride of the museum is the sculptures of Antonio Canova and the paintings of Italian artists of the 15th century: Vivarini, Bellini, Veneziano, Schiavone and Longhi. In the halls dedicated to history, you will be told about the stages of the formation of Venice, its heroes and the lives of famous people who in one way or another influenced the course of the city’s history.
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One of the museum halls
The exhibition includes not only works of art, but also household items, weapons and traditional clothing from various eras. Each exhibit is accompanied by an interesting story or legend from the guide, so you won’t be bored. In a word, if you want to touch something great and eternal, then the Correr Museum is an excellent opportunity for this.
Information for travelers:
Museum opening hours. From April 1 to October 31 - 10:00-19:00 (box office open until 18:00). From November 1 to March 31 - 09:00-17:00 (ticket office open until 16:00). The Correr Museum is closed on December 25 and January 1.
The full ticket price is 17 euros, children and students under 25 years old are 10 euros, children under 5 years old, local residents, disabled people and their accompanying people are free.
Prominently located on the Grand Canal is the Correr Museum, a huge treasure trove of works of art that represent the history, life, art and culture of Venice. The museum is based on the collection of the Venetian patrician Count Teodoro Correr, who belonged to a noble old family from which came generals, heads of magistrates, Pope Gregory XII and several cardinals. Teodoro Correr himself, following family traditions, was a member of the Council of Ten, and his position as a high government official gave him many opportunities for collecting. He not only bought, but also exchanged works of art; paintings also came to him from private collections.
When French troops entered Italy, Teodoro Correr tried to save monuments of art and prevent the export to France of both private collections and treasures from churches and monasteries. He himself bequeathed all his rich collections to the city, and in 1836 the Correr Museum was opened in Venice, which subsequently constantly grew and was replenished, so that now it unites several collections. In the 1840s, the museum received many works from churches and monasteries, which P. Edwards contributed greatly to in his time. The city commune, under whose jurisdiction it was located, also tried in every possible way to replenish the museum’s collections. She acquired the building of the Palazzo Fondaco dei Turchi for the museum, and in 1880 an exhibition opened there. The museum also received collections from private individuals, for example, Connetti donated a very rich collection of antiquities, and Contarini donated an ornithological collection.
Currently, the Correr Museum consists of several halls and is a rich treasury of sculptures made of marble, bone, wood, bronze and other materials; a priceless collection of medieval weapons, rare early printed books and manuscripts; entire cabinets of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, terracotta, Venetian glassware (from Murano); a collection of coins, medals and gems... The collection of original drawings and engravings includes six panels cut by Albrecht Dürer during his stay in Venice; These boards represent the “City Plan of Venice in 1500.”
There was not enough exhibition space for the museum’s rich collections, so the collection was separated. The paintings received a new room, where they are currently located. And in 1922, the museum received the New Procurations building, which was built using new equipment. Now it houses art reserves, including works of the 16th-17th centuries.
The art gallery occupies one of the central places in the museum. The first painting in the museum catalog is “Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter", painted by the artist Lorenzo Veneziano in 1369. Art historians believe that, most likely, it is the central part of the polyptych, where Jesus Christ conveys St. Peter the keys to heaven, sitting surrounded by angels and apostles with the open Gospel in his hands. According to the Byzantine tradition, the image of Christ is majestically stern, but some softness and thoughtfulness are also felt in Him. To create decorative beauty, the artist used a golden background; Thus, it sets off the clothes of Jesus Christ and His blue cloak, woven with a golden pattern.
Of the works of famous masters of the 16th century, the earliest is by Giovanni Bellini, probably written around 1400. On it, “Dead Christ Supported by Angels” is presented in the artist’s typical compositional form - cut off from below. This painting was at one time considered the work of the German artist A. Dürer, although art historians believe that both the composition of the painting and the image of Christ are closer to Donatello’s sculpture in Padua. A clear outline, contrast of light and shade and some rigidity of lines are combined in this picture with the transparent distance of the landscape. There is also the naive touching of the angels holding the hands of Christ...
Another painting by Giovanni Bellini, presented at the Correr Museum - “Transfiguration”, was written under the influence of Mantegna, like most of the artist’s early works. Even before entering the museum, the painting was cropped, but this did not violate its main advantages - the harmony and softness of slightly muted tones, as well as the special role of light in a soft and bright landscape. There is also a poetic detail in the picture - a thin tree with sparse branches, which later became common in many of the master’s compositions.
In 1919, the museum was donated to the painting “Madonna and Child” by Giovanni Bellini, which is one of the artist’s early works. It was written under the impression of the works of Donatello and Mantegna, and this was reflected primarily in the distinct interpretation of simple forms. At the same time, G. Bellini uses very soft light in this painting, unifying the entire composition, and the colors of the painting are so delicate that it seems as if the viewer is viewing it through transparent Venetian glass.
Only two paintings are associated with the name of Vittorio Carpaccio in the Correr Museum, but both of them are remarkable even after getting acquainted with the collection of the Academy of Arts Gallery. In “Two Venetian Women” the artist appears as the founder of genre painting proper, since this painting of his is not determined by either a religious or mythological plot. The left edge of the picture was cropped, but at what time it is now impossible to establish. For a long time it was believed that the painting depicted two Venetian courtesans (the painting was called “Due Cortigiane”).
The English art critic John Ruskin, some of whose works are dedicated specifically to Venice, considered this painting to be the best in the world: “I know of no one else who possesses all the definable abilities of a painter to such a high degree - there is scope and tenderness, brilliance and calm, courage and accuracy, color and light and shade... I don’t know any other painting in the world that can compare with this one.”
Subsequently, art historians established that the painting depicts noble Venetian women from the Torelli family. This can be judged by the coat of arms on the white vase that stands on the balustrade. One of the ladies sitting on the terrace is playing with a dog; It also depicts birds being watched by a boy. A dog is depicted on the left, but now only its muzzle and paw are visible, with which it is holding a piece of paper with the artist’s signature... It can be assumed that the lost part of the painting was very significant and made up half of the composition, equal to the right. If you follow the gaze of the lady sitting closer to the front edge, it is obvious that her attention is attracted not by the dog pulling the stick, but by some object that is not visible to the viewer.
Carpaccio’s brush is also attributed to the small “Portrait of a Man in a Red Beret” (35x23 cm) - a traditional 15th-century image of a strong-willed and decisive man. Unfortunately, this painting is not in very good condition.
Among the works of the Venetians of the 15th century, the “Madonna and Child” by Bartolomeo Vivarini, painted in the 1460-1470s, should be highlighted. The rich tones, so beloved by the artist, are restrained on this canvas and reduced to a few shades instead of the usual local colorful spots.
In 1921, the Venier family donated to the museum “Portrait of the Doges Antonio Venier and Michele Steno,” painted by L. Bastiniani. Previously, this painting was kept in one of the halls of the Doge's Palace; in a fire in 1577, the painting was damaged, but the Venier family later preserved a fragment of it as a memory of the activities of one of their ancestors.
Among the paintings with an interesting fate, one can highlight “St. Sebastian” by the artist S. Zuccato, a Lombard by birth who came to Venice at the end of the 15th century. "St. Sebastian” is the only painting of his signed and painted on wood. Kneeling before St. Sebastian depicts the customer as very large, and the saint looks more fragile in comparison, although in paintings of this kind the customer was always depicted at some distance from the saint and never exceeded his size.
Some of the paintings of the Correr Museum, while not being highly artistic works, are very interesting from a historical point of view. The significance of such historical evidence is the painting “Procession in St. Mark’s Square”, painted by Cesare Vecellio, Titian’s cousin, who worked in the workshop of the great Venetian. The Doge passes during a solemn procession, accompanied by senators and members of the magistrate, through St. Mark's Square, where the New Procurations have already been built, and the entire ensemble of the famous square is very close to its modern appearance.
At one time, this painting was in a Florentine collection, where it was attributed to the brushes of Tintoretto, but the name of this artist cannot in any way arise in connection with this painting, since the nature of its painting is directly opposite to the artist’s manner. Tintoretto in the Correr Museum is represented by the painting “St. Justina with Three Treasurers", which was written for the Kamerlenghi Palace. Then the canvas went to the Academy Gallery, and from there in 1948 it was transferred to the museum. On the canvas of St. Justina drapes her cloak over the treasurers, who are depicted in red robes trimmed with fur. Behind them are visible two secretaries in black, and even further away is the head of a young trainee. Below are three coats of arms of the families whose members are represented on the canvas - these are Marco Giustiniani, Angelo Morosini and Alessandro Badoer. Among the paintings of the 17th century, the most interesting are landscapes, but all of them, as a rule, were not included in the museum collection by its founder.
In the main halls of the second floor of the museum, works by the then famous and fashionable Antonio Canova, who became famous in his youth and later became Napoleon’s favorite sculptor, are exhibited. A model of Titian’s tombstone, which he created, which was later used in Canova’s own tombstone in the Church of Frari, is also on display here.
The pride of the museum is a map of Venice by Jacopo de' Barbari (1497-1500), painstakingly engraved on six pear wood panels.
On the second floor of the museum there is also a historical collection - Venetian costumes (for example, a Doge's cap), items on the history of navigation, geographical maps, etc.; miniature pens used to count votes in elections; a huge key that released poisoned arrows; a prayer book containing a pistol that belonged to Francesco Morosini. In one of the halls the “horn of the legendary unicorn” is displayed; in fact, it is a 1.6-meter narwhal tusk, which is beautifully engraved with the family tree of Jesus Christ. Among the museum's exhibits are wooden sandals 60 cm high (truly “high fashion”!), inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
The internal building of the Correr Museum houses the Risorgimento Museum, which exhibits materials about the struggle of Venice and Italy for independence against Napoleon and Austria. Some rooms of the museum contain among their exhibits documents from the period of the First World War and the Italian Resistance movement during the Second World War.
In general, there are not so many museums in Venice, and besides, there is so much beauty in the city itself, and even the churches and cathedrals are like museums themselves, that exhibitions are not the first thing you think about. But in advance we planned two museums for ourselves, one of which was Correra. It is located on St. Mark's Square and the ticket here is joint with the Doge's Palace. In Correra, in addition to the art gallery, there are also various collections of household items, including coins, dishes, books, and clothing from different times; it is called a local history museum.
There are many valuable exhibits here and famous artists are represented, but, to be honest, the impression of the museum is, let’s say, restrained.
There are halls that are very beautiful and everything there is well arranged, but there are some that seem temporary or somehow unorganized, soulless...
And then we can no longer help but compare with what we have already seen, in the same, for example, Florence.
But we won’t find fault, I’ll show you what we saw there and what’s interesting to see.
The museum bears the name of Correr because it arose thanks to the Venetian patrician Count Teodoro Correr, from an old family, which included generals, heads of the magistrate of Venice, Pope Gregory XII and several cardinals. Subsequently, the collection was “corrected” by Napoleon, and eventually transferred to the city.
The first photo shows one of the early works of the sculptor (and, by the way, Napoleon’s favorite) Antonio Canova - “Orpheus and Eurydice”.
His main works are kept in the Louvre and the Hermitage, but there are several here too.
Also from the early one - “Daedalus and Icarus”. And "Venus" in the Greek hall.
Large library of antique books, globes and elegant Venetian glass
There are coins, coin printing presses, and on the wall “St. Justin with Three Treasurers” by Tintoretto
And I was sooooo happy that Andrei saw the “unicorn horn”, I would definitely have passed by, but I wanted to see it.
It's actually a narwhal tusk, over 1.6 meters long, with the family tree of Jesus Christ engraved on it.
About the paintings. There are many unknown (not only to us, but also in general) artists showing the vibrant Venetian life of different eras, mainly, of course, maritime
But not only sea. Here, for example, is “Procession in St. Mark’s Square,” written by Cesare Vecellio, Titian’s cousin.
And now almost 500 years have passed since then, and almost nothing has changed. This is San Marco from the museum window
And then we were surprised, as if here it was, St. Mark’s Square, and the Doge’s Palace, and the clock tower, and where did the triumphal arch come from?
Then we accidentally overheard (in a different place) a tour guide; it turns out that they put up such temporary arches, made of papier-mâché, on special occasions.
Among the famous works in Correra you can see Lorenzo Veneziano's "Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter" (still Byzantine style)
Several works by Giovanni Bellini, including "Dead Christ Supported by Angels" and "Madonna"
There is also the famous painting “The Adoration of the Magi” by Pieter Bruegel Jr.
One of those paintings that you will see and remember, probably for the rest of your life, is “The Lamentation of Christ by Angels” by Antonello da Messina
And even "Madonna" Lotto
In short, there are many artists represented and from different eras.
And my favorite museum-palace ceilings, on which there are many paintings and decorations
Another unusual thing we saw in the museum were these women's shoes:
In the Middle Ages, they were worn only by courtesans, or even by Venetian women, wooden, with mother-of-pearl flowers, but they were very tall.
There were even up to 60 cm in height, you can’t even stand on them!
But the Venetians were dexterous, and therefore tall!))
And this concludes the short tour of the Correr Museum!
Among the pompous palaces and cathedrals of Venice, museums that house valuable works of art of world significance stand out. The Correr Museum is a collection of exhibits reflecting the life, culture and history of Venetian statehood. Excellent paintings, sculptures, as well as various household items - all this makes a great impression on tourists.
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The reason for the founding of the city museum was the passionate love for art of the Venetian patrician Theodore Correr. The heir to a noble family was born in 1750. Count Correr began his career in the government apparatus without much enthusiasm. His high position gave Theodore the opportunity to pursue his favorite hobby - collecting original household items and works of art. Paintings by famous artists, sculptures, weapons, porcelain dishes, and ancient maps brought greater joy to life than government service. During the Napoleonic occupation, a nobleman saved the exhibits from being exported to France.
In 1830, Theodor Correr dies. According to his will, the rich heritage and significant financial resources were transferred to the disposal of the municipality for the formation of the future museum. A few years later, a museum was opened in the Correr mansion under the direction of the Venetian archaeologist and historian Vincenzo Lazzari. Thanks to private donations, the number of exhibits was constantly growing. In 1880, the city authorities acquired the Fondaco dei Turchi palace specifically for the museum. However, even the large apartments of this house could hardly accommodate Correr’s huge collection. It was decided to place the exhibits in different museums in Venice. The most valuable historical works of art were placed in the spacious premises of the building in Piazza San Marco.
Nowadays the Correr Museum is located in a palace, which has its own interesting history. At the end of the 18th century, the French army occupied the Venetian Republic. By order of Napoleon, the construction of an extension began between the ensembles of Procuration buildings bordering St. Mark's Square. The new wing externally repeated the look of the galleries built back in 1584 for the residence of the noble communities of Venice. The facade of the building was decorated with arched windows with pilasters, and the upper part was crowned with a wide sculptural cornice. A spacious staircase, decorated with a balustrade, led to a huge ballroom.
It was originally intended that the outbuilding would serve as a residence for the monarchs of the new state created by Napoleon. The final construction of the building was completed when Venice was already under the Austrian protectorate. Representatives of the Habsburg family settled in the palace. Therefore, the interior of the halls had to correspond to the imperial character of the architecture. In 1820, the Venetian artist Giuseppe Borsato began decorating the premises. The rooms of the palace are decorated with pilasters, the walls are lined with sculptural ornaments, and the ceilings are painted with frescoes. Carved mahogany furniture, trimmed with bronze and marble, as well as Venetian glass chandeliers skillfully complemented the rich decoration of the premises.
At the beginning of the 20th century, largely thanks to the Italian Ministry of Culture, the luxurious chambers of the palace in Piazza San Marco became one of the main repositories of works of art.
Museum exposition - what to see?
The main concept of the Correr Museum is to display exhibits that embody the political, spiritual and cultural image of the Venetian Republic. The exhibition consists of several halls dedicated to ancient paintings, engravings, household items, sculptural compositions and other valuable attributes. In the large halls of the palace you can see many ancient statues. In particular, the marble sculptures of mythical characters - Orpheus, Eurydice and Venus - are extremely exquisite. The work of the famous Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, who depicted how Daedalus puts on the fragile wings of Icarus, deserves special attention.
On the second floor of the museum there are collections of objects that help to get an idea of various aspects of the life of the Venetians. This is a collection of coats of arms, coins, medals, seals, books, portraits of doges, models of ships and Venetian costumes. Outstanding works of art occupy a central place in the museum. The art gallery allows visitors to see the talented works of famous masters from different eras. Of particular note is Vittorio Carpaccio's painting "Two Venetian Women", which depicts two women on a terrace with a balustrade. One lady is playing with dogs, the other is looking into the distance, holding a white scarf in her hand. The picture is completed by a young man watching the Venetian women.
Lorenzo Veneziano's famous panel "Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter", painted in 1369, is a superb masterpiece. In the composition, the artist depicted Jesus Christ on a golden background, surrounded by apostles and angels. It’s hard to miss Giovanni Bellini’s “Dead Christ Supported by Angels” and “Madonna and Child.” The paintings impress with the clear contours of human bodies against the backdrop of the landscape.
The paintings describing the historical events of Venice are interesting. Cesare Vecellio's painting "Procession in St. Mark's Square" depicts the procession of the Doge and his retinue through Piazza San Marco during ceremonial events. On the canvas you can see many people and the exquisite architectural structures of the square.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Museum opening hours vary depending on the season. From November to March, the palace doors are open from 10:00 to 17:00, and from April to October - from 10:00 to 19:00. A visit to the museum requires a single ticket, the price of which is 20 euros.
Where is it and how to get there
The Correr Museum is located in Piazza San Marco, in the architectural ensemble of the Procuration buildings opposite St. Mark's Cathedral. This is one of the main attractions of the center of Venice. All pedestrian roads lead here. You can take a water bus (vaporetto) to the pier in the San Marco area. The abundance of signs for tourists will not allow travelers to get lost.
