Venice and Islam 828-1797

Exhibition at the Doge’s Palace in Venice looking at the relationship between Venice and Islam over nearly 1000 years looking at the role it played in design, trade, diplomacy and science.

It included the Bellini portrait of Mahomet II alongside a contemporary portrait of a Doge with an example of the Islamic material he is wearing.

I loved the idea that Venice learnt its glass making arts from Islam only for the East to then buy venation glass lamps for their mosques.

By the end you also realised you were in an exhibit as the exhibition was held in the council chamber of the palace featuring the “Battle of Lepanto” by Andrea Vincentino. The Battle of Lepanto being the great battle with the Turkish forces which end the relationship.

This was a good compliment to the exhibition at the National Gallery last year on “Bellini and the East”.

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