HISTORY OF DESIGN OF GLASS IN VENICE

Venetian glass art is mentioned in documents since the 10th century but it probably goes back to Roman times. Some blown vessels of exceptional interest, enamel decorated, housed in different international museums, date back to the 13th century. They were the outcome of the relations of Venice with the Levant.
The most important period certainly was the Renaissance, which, as to Venetian glass, started in 1450 ca. From then to the end of the 16th
century new refined techniques, which characterize Murano glassblowing also today, were invented and developed and, above all,
the peculiar Venetian style became evident. It spread all over Europe thanks to several glassworks which produced glass à la façon de Venice. Old Venetian glass in internationally renowned but, until now, it has not always been deeply studied, therefore it offers interesting research opportunities, concerning the development of shapes and decoration, consistent with the Italian Renaissance taste, the influence of Chinese porcelain and Islamic decorative art; the adjustment to the requirements of Northern markets; the demand of excellent costumers.
The course focuses on the Renaissance period, without neglecting the production in Renaissance style of the 19th century revival (and the related problem of copies and fakes, which museum curators have to face) and the important role of old models in the early decades of the 20th century, when contemporary production started.