The unfinished palazzo

Description:

Commissioned in 1750, the Palazzo Venier was planned as a testimony to the power and wealth of a great Venetian family, but the fortunes of the Venier family waned and the project was abandoned with only one storey complete. Empty, unfinished, and in a gradual state of decay, the building was considered an eyesore. Yet in the early 20th century the Unfinished Palazzo's quality of fairytale abandonment, and its potential for transformation, were to attract and inspire three fascinating women at key moments in their lives: Luisa Casati, Doris Castlerosse and Peggy Guggenheim. Each chose the Palazzo Venier as the stage on which to build her own world of art and imagination, surrounded by an amazing supporting cast, from d'Annunzio and Nijinsky, via Noel Coward and Cecil Beaton, to Yoko Ono.

subjects: Social life and customs,  Homes and haunts,  Palaces,  Upper class women,  Palazzo Venier dei Leoni (Venice, Italy),  Biography,  History,  Architecture, italy,  Venice (italy), history,  New York Times reviewed,  Palazzo farnese (rome, italy),  Casati Stampa, Luisa, 1881-1957 -- Homes and haunts -- Italy -- Venice,  Delevingne, Doris -- Homes and haunts -- Italy -- Venice,  Guggenheim, Peggy, 1898-1979 -- Homes and haunts -- Italy -- Venice,  Upper class women -- Italy -- Venice -- Biography,  Palaces -- Italy -- Venice -- History,  Venice (Italy) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century

People: Doris Delevingne,  Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979),  Luisa Casati Stampa (1881-1957)

Places: Venice (Italy),  Venice,  Italy

Times: 20th century