With this exhibition at Ca’ Rezzonico—Museum of 18th-Century Venice—the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia presents the recent donation by Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli, president of the historic Venetian textile manufacturer. A precious collection of 29 drawings by Venetian old masters, including Palma il Giovane, Luca Carlevarijs, Sebastiano Ricci, Canaletto, and Giambattista Tiepolo—whose works the attorney and Knight of Labor chose to donate to the city of Venice, bequeathing them to the Department of Drawings and Prints of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.
The result of a refined passion for collecting, the collection reflects Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli’s deep connection to Venice, its history, and its artists. Alongside his business activities, he has cultivated a keen interest in the history of the Serenissima, building over time a significant collection of antique books dedicated to Venice, including historical works, guidebooks, and illustrated albums, dating from the late 15th century to the early 20th century.
The collection is divided into two main sections. The first includes a group of 16th-century drawings, among which Palma the Younger’s Christ Tempted by the Devil stands out; the second section is dedicated to 18th-century Venice and constitutes the heart of the donation, bringing together some of the leading artists of the Serenissima’s final era.
