10 Best Paintings at Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia

If you’re looking for an unforgettable art experience in Venice, visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia. This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous paintings in history, including Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. In this guide, we’ll provide everything you need to know about visiting the Accademia Gallery, including information on tickets and the top 10 paintings you don’t want to miss!

A great collection of masterpieces spanning the full development of Venetian art from Byzantine to Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo, the Gallerie dell’Academia is Venice’s equivalent of the Uffizi in Florence and The Louvre in France.

Section	Information
History	Founded in 1750 by the Venetian Republic and is one of the oldest museums in the world.
Visiting the Gallery	The gallery is open to the public daily, with extended hours during peak tourist season. Admission to the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia is not free, and entrance tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office.
Accessibility	The gallery is accessible for visitors with disabilities, with ramps and elevators provided.
Location	The gallery is located in the heart of the Dorsoduro district near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The gallery can be reached by foot, or you can take the vaporetto (water bus) along the Grand Canal.

History of the Gallerie Dell’Accademia Di Venezia

The Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia, also known as the Galleries of the Academy of Venice, was founded in 1750 by the Venetian Republic and is one of the oldest museums in the world.

The museum was initially intended to house and exhibit the works of art that had been removed from the city’s churches and convents during the 18th century as part of the Republic’s policy of suppressing religious institutions.

The gallery’s collection comprises of works accumulated over centuries, and it’s considered one of the most important collections of Venetian art in the world.

The collection has been expanded through donations and acquisitions, and today it includes works by some of the most famous artists of the Venetian Renaissance, such as Bellini, Tintoretto, and Titian, as well as sculptures by Antonio Canova and Jacopo Sansovino, and decorative arts such as furniture, ceramics, and glassware.

In the past, the gallery was housed in the Scuola della Carità, and then in the former Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli, before being moved to its current location in the former Convent of Santa Maria della Carità in 1879.

The gallery underwent a major renovation and restoration in the early 21st century and it re-opened in 2008, providing a more modern, comfortable, and accessible space for visitors.

It was expanded again in 2016, with the addition of seven new rooms inaugurated in a wing on the ground floor planned by Andrea Palladio (who was the principal architect behind some of Venice’s Most Beautiful Churches and other important religious buildings).

The Accademia features 24 rooms arranged chronologically and around two picturesque courtyards.

Visiting the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia

Visiting the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia is a must for art lovers and history enthusiasts; thankfully, the art academy makes it easy to see everything at an affordable price and within a reasonable amount of time.

Hours of Operation

The gallery is open to the public daily, with extended hours during peak tourist season. The gallery’s regular hours of operation are Mondays (8:15 A.M. to 2 P.M.) and Tuesdays to Sundays from 8:15 A.M. to 7:15 P.M.

Ticket Prices

Admission to the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia is not free. Still, the prices are reasonable, and the entrance tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office for €12.00 (plus €1.50 booking fee if booking online). Your admission tickets include access to temporary exhibitions and special events held at the gallery (unless otherwise stated).

Guided Tours and Audio Guides

For those interested in taking a guided tour, the gallery offers tours in Italian and English, which can be booked in advance. Audio guides in several languages are also available for rent at the gallery’s reception desk and are well worth the money.

We used the audio tour and highly recommend it. We found them to be more convenient than taking a guided tour, they are available in more languages, and they did a great job enhancing the museum experience by providing historical context, personal anecdotes, and interesting facts about the art and the artists within the Accademia gallery.

Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities

The gallery is accessible for visitors with disabilities, with ramps and elevators provided. For visitors with mobility issues, it’s recommended to check the accessibility before visiting, as the buildings are old. The good news is that the gallery is located on the first floor.

Audio guides are great for visitors who are visually impaired or have mobility issues. Audio tours can be a great way to access information about the exhibits without relying on written descriptions and visual cues. If getting through the building is proving difficult, you don’t even have to visit each painting and artifact, as the guide will slowly cover them all.

Locating the Accademia Gallery

Address: Calle della Carità, 1050, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

Getting to the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia is easy, as it is located in the heart of the Dorsoduro district near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The gallery can be reached by foot, or you can take the vaporetto (water bus) that runs along the grand canal.

The vaporetto stop is next to the Accademia bridge, and you can use line 1 or 2 to get there. The gallery is just a short walk away (about 150 feet) from the stop.

If you’re arriving from the Santa Lucia train station, it’s a six-minute walk to the Accademia galleries.

What Is The Venetian Renaissance?

To truly understand why the Gallerie dell’Accademia is considered the most important museum in Venice and one of the best in Italy, you should know a little more about the cultural heritage surrounding Venetian art.

The Venetian Renaissance refers to Venice’s artistic and cultural revival during the 15th and 16th centuries. This period saw a flourishing of art, architecture, literature, and music in Venice, which had grown into a powerful and wealthy city-state by the time of the Renaissance.

This period of time, which coincided with the Italian Renaissance, was characterized by a renewed interest in classical art and culture and a focus on naturalism and realism in art.

Venetian painters such as Giovanni Bellini, Titian, and Tintoretto were instrumental in this movement, creating both technically brilliant and emotionally evocative works.

Architecture also saw significant developments during this time, with the construction of iconic landmarks such as the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, the Palazzo Ducale, and the Chiesa di San Giovanni e Paolo.

Venice was also a major center of trade and commerce, which allowed for the exchange of ideas and art between different cultures. This cosmopolitan atmosphere attracted many artists, poets, and humanists from other parts of Italy and Europe, making Venice a melting pot of different cultures and artistic styles (something you can see in Venetian paintings).

The Renaissance was also a period of significant political and social change in Venice. The ruling oligarchy, the Great Council, saw a decline in its power and influence, which led to the rise of a new class of wealthy merchants and traders. This new class of powerful merchants and traders supported the arts, which led to more Venetians focusing on cultivating their artistic abilities.

Overall, the Venetian Renaissance was a period of significant artistic and cultural growth in Venice, which continues to be celebrated and studied today.

Unsurprisingly, the Accademia Gallery in Venice has a spectacular collection of Venetian paintings ranging from Vittore Carpaccio to Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco.

Artwork	Artist
Feast in the House of Levi	Paolo Veronese
Miracle of the Slave	Jacopo Tintoretto
Pietà	Titian
San Giobbe Altarpiece	Giovanni Bellini
Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem	Francesco Hayez
Madonna of the Red Cherubims	Giovanni Bellini
The Old Woman	Giorgione
Miracle of the Relic of the Holy Cross at the Rialto Bridge	Vittore Carpaccio
Perspective View with Portico	Canaletto
Vitruvian Man	da Vinci

Accademia Gallery Highlights

The Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia is home to an impressive collection of artworks spanning from the 13th to the 18th century. Some of the main highlights of the collection and our favorites are shown below.

01. Feast in the House of Levi

Artist: Paolo Veronese
Created: 1573
Movement: Mannerism
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall X

Veronese’s Feast in the House of Levi is considered the most famous painting on display at the Accademia Gallery and one of Veronese’s most famous works (only The Wedding in Cana, located in the Louvre Museum, is considered more famous).

Completed in 1573, the painting is large, measuring approximately 18 feet by 42 feet.

The painting depicts The Last Supper as described in the Bible, with Jesus and his disciples gathered around a table. However, Veronese’s interpretation of the scene is quite different from traditional depictions, like the one by Leonardo da Vinci.

Instead of the solemn and intimate atmosphere typically associated with The Last Supper, Veronese’s painting is filled with vibrant colors, grand architecture, and a wealth of figures, including servants, musicians, and dogs.

Due to Veronese’s depiction of The Last Supper, The Feast in the House of Levi was controversial in its time. The church authorities who commissioned the piece were angered by the inclusion of “dogs, buffoons, drunken Germans, dwarfs, and other such absurdities.” Therefore, Verone changed the title to what we have today.

The painting is a masterpiece of the Late Renaissance. It is noted for its use of light and color, with a warm, golden light illuminating the figures and the room. Each figure is depicted in a relaxed and naturalistic manner, and their expressions and gestures convey a sense of movement and life.

The Feast in the House of Levi reflects the opulence and richness of the Venetian Republic during the 16th century and is a testament to Veronese’s skill as a painter and his ability to create a grand and dynamic composition that is both beautiful and meaningful.

More than any other painting, Feast in the House of Levi is a must-see when visiting the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

If you like Veronese’s works, you should consider visiting Chiesa di San Sebastiano (a Roman Catholic church in Dorsoduro) and taking a tour of Doge’s Palace. Both locations are home to Veronese paintings, including Rape of Europa – a beautiful allegorical work completed in 1580.

02. Miracle of the Slave

Artist: Jacopo Tintoretto
Created: 1548
Movement: Mannerism
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall XI

The Miracle of the Slave is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Jacopo Tintoretto, also known as Jacopo Comin. It was completed in 1548 and is currently displayed in Hall XI of the Accademia Gallery.

Miracle of the Slave is a large canvas measuring approximately 14 feet by 18 feet and depicts a scene from the Bible in which Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice, performs a miracle to save a slave from being beaten to death by his Roman masters.

With rays radiating around his head, Saint Mark descends upside down in the center of the painting to protect the slave that lies unconscious on the ground. The slave’s tormentors, a group of Roman soldiers, are found at the foot and head of the man, ready to strike with broken weapons.

Tintoretto’s composition is dynamic and dramatic, with a sense of movement and tension. The figures are depicted in a highly expressive and emotive manner, with twisted and contorted poses.

The scene is lit by a bright light that shines down from the top of the painting, creating a sense of divine intervention. Tintoretto expertly uses rich and vibrant colors, with a warm, golden light illuminating the protective Saint Mark while the tormentors are draped in darker shades.

The Miracle of the Slave is considered one of Tintoretto’s masterpieces and is an excellent example of his style characterized by chiaroscuro (light and shade) and a powerful dynamic composition.

It is an influential painting that reflects the religious fervor of the time and the devotion of the Venetians to Saint Mark.

If you’re interested in more of Tintoretto’s art, stop by San Giorgio Maggiore church. It houses Tintoretto’s The Last Supper and The Jews in the Desert.

03. Pietà

Artist: Titian
Created: 1575-1576
Movement: Mannerism
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall XI

Titian was a highly influential Italian Renaissance painter known for his ability to convey emotion in his works. Born about 80 miles outside Venice in Pieve di Cadore, Titian would move to the city and train under Giovanni Bellini before becoming one of the most sought-after Renaissance artists.

While his works can be found in many of the world’s major art museums, including the Louvre, the Prado, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, his last ever painting, Pietà, is found within the halls of the Accademia Gallery in Venice.

Pietà was originally created for the Christ chapel in the Frari church, with the understanding that Titian would be buried there upon his death. However, the painting was returned to his workshop when the agreement fell through. Sometime in the early 17th century, it found a new home in the church of Sant’Angelo in Venice before being acquired by the Accademia Gallery.

The painting is renowned for its use of color and the emotional intensity of the figures, particularly the Virgin Mary’s expression of grief and Saint Jerome on hands and knees crawling to a fallen Christ.

The theme of death, the eucharistic sacrifice, and the Resurrection are central to the painting, as seen in symbols such as the pelican (located in the mosaic semi-dome). The pelican, a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, is depicted pecking at its own breast to feed its young.

The painting also features statues of Moses and the Hellespontine Sibyl, as well as a depiction of the Virgin holding her son’s lifeless body and Mary Magdalene screaming in pain.

Titian also included a well-known self-portrait. He depicted himself as Saint Jerome, the man in the red cloak lying prostrate before the Virgin and Christ.

Perhaps due to maturation in his art, the technique used in Pietà is typical of Titian’s later works and is characterized by dark colors applied with thick, fast brushstrokes that he did not use in his youth.

The work was incomplete when Titian died on August 27, 1576, during a terrible plague outbreak in Venice. The painting was later completed by Palma Giovane, Titian’s primary pupil. While the extent of his contributions is up for debate, most agree that Palma added the angel statue with a torch, the inscription at the bottom of the panel, and some minor architectural touch-ups.

04. San Giobbe Altarpiece

Artist: Giovanni Bellini
Created: 1485
Movement: Renaissance
Medium: Oil on Panel
Location: Hall II

The Bellini family was the most prominent and respected painters in Renaissance Venice. The most notable members of the family were Jacopo Bellini and his two sons, Giovanni and Gentile Bellini. Each a great master in their own right.

Giovanni Bellini was Jacopo’s younger son and was active in Venice during the 15th and 16th centuries. He is considered one of the greatest painters of the Venetian Renaissance and one of the most important figures in the history of Western art. He was also one of the first painters to use oil paint in Venice.

Bellini’s early works show the influence of his father and tutor, Andrea Mantegna, but as he matured, he developed his own style, characterized by his use of light and color. He was a prolific painter and created many works for churches and private patrons throughout Venice and the surrounding areas.

San Giobbe Altarpiece is a triptych painting, meaning it is composed of three panels hinged together. The central panel depicts the Madonna and Child in the midst of a group of saints, including Saint Job and Saint Sebastian. The two side panels depict scenes from the life of Saint Job, including his suffering and his restoration by God (not shown).

The Madonna and Child are surrounded by a soft, ethereal light, contrasting with the darker, more dramatic lighting in the scenes from Saint Job’s life. This use of light helps to create a sense of depth and realism in the painting and is a hallmark of Bellini’s style.

The figures in the painting are also notable for their naturalism and attention to detail. Bellini was known for his ability to depict human figures in a lifelike and realistic manner, which is evident in the San Giobbe Altarpiece. The figures are depicted in a variety of poses and with a variety of expressions, giving the painting a sense of movement and liveliness.

Bellini was a respected and successful artist in his lifetime, and his influence can be seen in the works of many other painters of the Venetian school, including Giorgione, Titian, and Tintoretto.

If you found the San Giobbe Altarpiece fascinating, you should also seek out his San Zaccaria Altarpiece (which we reference in our guide to The Most Beautiful Churches in Venice) and the Feast of the Gods – located at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

05. Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem

Artist: Francesco Hayez
Created: 1867
Movement: Romanticism
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall XI

Taking a detour from the Venetian school of Renaissance artists, we come to one of my favorite paintings in the Accademia Museum: Francesco Hayez’s Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

The Siege of Jerusalem was a military campaign in 70 A.D. in which Roman forces, led by Titus, besieged and captured Jerusalem. Jewish rebels, known as the Zealots, controlled the city at the time of the attack.

The siege lasted for several months and resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple, one of the most important religious sites for Jews at the time.

The Roman army killed or enslaved much of the city’s population, and the remaining Jews fled for their lives. This event is considered one of the most significant in Jewish history as it marked the end of the Second Temple period and the beginning of the Jewish diaspora.

With the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, Hayez puts us at the very moment the carnage is at its height, an evocative scene of chaos and destruction, with Roman soldiers looting and burning the temple while Jewish men and women are shown trying to flee or defend themselves.

Hayez’s painting is notable for its dramatic, emotional style and superb use of light and shadows, characteristic of the Romantic movement.

In 2017, the Accademia Gallery acquired 18 preparatory sketches that show Hayez started developing the painting in 1860. The studies are located in the Gallery’s Cabinet of Prints and Drawings and offer a fantastic glimpse of Hayez’s workflow and maturation as an artist. I highly recommend seeking them out.

06. Madonna of the Red Cherubims

Artist: Giovanni Bellini
Created: 1485
Movement: Early Renaissance
Medium: Oil on Panel
Location: Hall IV

Completed in 1485, Madonna of the Red Cherubims is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini displayed in Hall IV alongside Piero della Francesca’s Saint Jerome and a Devotee.

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus while surrounded by red cherubs. The scene is set in an idyllic landscape with a blue sky and green hills.

Mary is shown in a traditional Byzantine style, with a long, flowing robe and a thin halo around her head, while the baby Jesus is shown in a naturalistic manner, with chubby cheeks, a playful expression, and a thin halo around his head.

On the other hand, the cherubs are plump, with empty eyes and bright red color, and are meant to be unnatural and possibly mischievous.

Bellini’s use of colors is particularly noteworthy, as they are soft and subtle, with a delicate balance of warm and cool tones. The gold background of the painting creates a feeling of holiness and spirituality, and the colors used in the landscape are natural and harmonious. The Madonna’s blue robe and the red cherubs provide a nice contrast which helps the figures stand out from the background.

While Bellini has more influential pieces, Madonna of the Red Cherubims is a personal favorite due to his use of natural elements, soft colors, and a serene atmosphere juxtaposed beautifully by the unnatural cherubs floating above.

07. The Old Woman

Artist: Giorgio o Zorzi da Castelfranco detto Giorgione
Created: 1506
Movement: High Renaissance
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall VIII

While some prefer Giorgione’s The Tempest, also found in Hall VIII of the Accademia Gallery, The Old Woman reigns superior.

The Old Woman departs from Giorgione’s other works, carries an air of mystery that lends itself to repeated viewings, and uses unusual techniques for the Renaissance.

At first glance, you might not think much of the painting. It is an old woman against a dark backdrop. His subject matter and how he captivates her likeness have led this painting to be revered 500 years after its conception.

The elderly woman is portrayed with extreme realism, her face showing the effects of time and aging with deep wrinkles and missing teeth. Perhaps a beggar, she is seated on a low stone bench wearing ragged clothes, and her hair is messy. Her expression is one of resignation and weariness.

The background is dominated by darkness, further adding to the mood of the painting. It is reminiscent of Albrecht Dürer’s Portrait of a Young Man, which uses similar techniques, albeit with less emphasis on photorealism.

The Old Woman is noted for its expressive use of light and shadow and its emphasis on the woman’s psychological state.

Holding parchment with the words “col tempo” (with time) and pointing to herself, we are meant to reflect on how time eventually catches us all.

08. Miracle of the Relic of the Holy Cross at the Rialto Bridge

Artist: Vittore Carpaccio
Created: 1496
Movement: Renaissance
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall XX

Largely viewed as an important religious painting, Carpaccio’s Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Rialto Bridge is also a unique glimpse into daily life in Renaissance Venice.

The painting depicts a man’s miraculous healing before a relic of the Holy Cross.

In the upper left corner, a large crowd of priests gathers around a small platform to witness as the man, in a blue and black tunic, is cured before a relic of the True Cross.

The crowd of priests is depicted in great detail, with many individuals shown in different poses and expressions, giving the scene a sense of movement and energy.

However, the rest of the painting is where I tend to focus. The Grand Canal fills most of the canvas with scenes from everyday life playing out before us.

The Rialto Bridge, depicted in one of its original forms, was the only main connection between the two sides of the Canal during that time. This made Rialto the center of Venice’s commercial and financial activities, attracting people from all corners of the globe to its renowned markets.

The painting showcases a wide array of people, including Venetian politicians in red robes, theatrical actors in striped stockings and long, curly hair, and a variety of elegantly dressed gondoliers – including a rare glimpse at black Venetians.

The painting is notable for its use of color and light, with the warm tones of the sunlit buildings and the cool tones of the reflections in the water creating a striking contrast. Carpaccio also uses a technique called “sfumato” to create a hazy, atmospheric effect, which contributes to the sense of realism in the painting.

The Miracle of the Relic of the Cross captures the fervor and excitement of everyday Venetian life with great skill. For that reason, it makes our list of the best paintings in the Accademia Gallery in Venice.

09. Perspective View with Portico

Artist: Antonio Canal Detto Canaletto
Created: 1765
Movement: Rococo
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall IX

Coming serval centuries after the height of the Venetian Renaissance and the great masters on this list, Canaletto more than belongs in the Accademia Galleries.

French writer and historian said of the artist, “As to Canaleto, his craft is painting views of Venice; in this genre, he exceeds by far all that came before. His manner is bright, gay, alive, clear, and marvelously detailed.”

Canaletto was a master of topographies. While he spent some years in Rome and London, he is most well-known for vividly documenting Venice. His works, from his early years until his last, expertly recreate day-to-day life in the city and provide a glimpse of Venice in the 18th Century.

However, his ability to blend real and imagined worlds seamlessly separates Canaletto from other guildsmen. He wasn’t beholden to replicating geographic and architectural accuracy, which made him sought out by the upper classes.

Canaletto had a discerning eye for compositional balance and an instinctive feel for dramatic effects. He usually composed images of identifiable landmarks, which he rearranged to create subtle new compositions. His paintings were often composed of actual and imaginary elements, such as architecture and scenery.

In Perspective View of Portico, we see this carried out masterfully. The painting shows a perspective view of a grand portico with several arches and columns and some figures walking and talking in the foreground. He focuses on architectural details, which are rendered with meticulous precision and attention to perspective, while the figures in the foreground provide a sense of scale and serve as a foil to the grandeur of the portico.

Canaletto was an early adopter of camera obscura, a technique that allowed him to use light and shadow in a way where it enhances the three-dimensional quality of the composition and creates a sense of depth and space.

Perspective View with Portico is considered a masterwork of Canaletto. It showcases his ability to capture the essence of Venetian life and architecture in his paintings, his technical skill as a painter, and his mastery of perspective.

10. The Tempest

Artist: Giorgio o Zorzi da Castelfranco detto Giorgione
Created: 1506
Movement: Renaissance
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Hall VIII

A young mother draped in a white cape and wearing a lace cap tenderly nurses her child on the lush banks of an idyllic river. She turns to meet our eyes as we observe the tranquil scene. To her left stands a fashionably dressed youth who gazes outwards while leaning upon his staff; behind him are remnants of two broken columns and other architectural fragments that remain from long ago.

Vibrant trees frame the painting to the left and right, while a wooden bridge spans across the center – leading toward a town beyond. From above, thunderous lightning cascades through an atmospheric sky, ultimately giving this masterpiece its name: The Tempest.

Giorgione was among the first to rely solely on oil paints. With The Tempest, he harnessed the expressive force of oils to illustrate both the tension and anticipation of a summer’s day ahead and a storm brewing in the picturesque Northern Italian terrain – a precursor to the independent genre of landscape art.

Measuring only 82 cm x 73 cm, this small painting has made a tremendous impression on art history and theory.

For over five hundred years, this painting has baffled viewers and defied interpretation: is the man a warrior or a shepherd? Is the woman an immortal deity or simply a gypsy?

The Tempest’s combination of ambiguity and atmosphere has been a source of intrigue for later artists, prompting them to recreate its mesmerizing landscape and the ambiguous relationship between its characters.

Look to Titian’s painting Sacred and Profane Love (Borghese Gallery), in Nicolas Poussin’s Et in Arcadia ego (Louvre Museum), and later in Manet’s impressionist painting Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe (Musée d’Orsay).

It is believed that the painting may represent a mythological or allegorical scene, but the exact meaning of the painting is not known. Some art historians argue that the painting does not depict a specific event or subject but a dreamlike atmosphere.

What do you make of the painting? Let us know in the comments below.

11. Vitruvian Man

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Created: 1452
Movement: High Renaissance
Medium: Ink on Paper
Location: Not On Display

This is a bonus because the Vitruvian Man is hardly ever displayed at the Accademia Gallery, despite its importance and fame.

To preserve the integrity of the drawing and avoid further deterioration, it is necessary to maintain a controlled environment with regulated light and temperature levels. As a result, the Vitruvian Man is not currently on display.

Having visited multiple times, I can tell you that it has never been displayed in all my years of going. Regardless it is an interesting piece and worth inclusion on the list of the Accademia Gallery’s best artworks.

Created in 1452, the Vitruvian Man, also referred to as the Study of the Proportions of the Human Body, is based on the work of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

The drawing depicts a naked man standing in two superimposed positions, with his arms and legs apart, within a circle and a square. The man’s outspread arms and legs touch the circle’s perimeter, while his navel is at the center of the square. The drawing illustrates the ideal human proportion according to the principles of Vitruvius.

The symbolic use of circles and squares can be traced back to the Middle Ages when they were often used as symbols for the sky and earth. In the case of the Vitruvian Man, the inclusion of a human figure within these shapes highlights the correlation between the universe and the individual.

Outside of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, the Vitruvian Man is considered one of da Vinci’s most famous works and has become a symbol of Renaissance humanism. It is the most famous drawing of da Vinci and perhaps the most famous drawing in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Gallerie dell’Accademia Famous?

The Gallerie dell’Accademia holds the largest collection of Venetian paintings in Italy, including masterpieces from famed artists like Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, and Veronese. It is also home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.

Is There a Dress Code for Accademia Gallery in Venice?

There is no dress code for the Accademia Gallery.

How Long Does It Take To Walk Through the Gallerie dell’Accademia?

It highly depends on how long you take to admire each piece of art; however, most visitors should expect to spend 60 minutes.

What Should You Not Miss at the Accademia Gallery in Venice?

1. Feast in the House of Levi by Veronese
2. Miracle of the Slave by Tintoretto
3. Pietà by Titian
4. San Giobbe Altarpiece by Bellini
5. Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by Hayez
6. Madonna of the Red Cherubims by Bellini
7. The Old Woman by Giorgione
8. Miracle of the Relic of the Holy Cross at the Rialto Bridge by Carpaccio
9. Perspective View with Portico by Canaletto
10. The Tempest by Giorgione
11. Vitruvian Man by da Vinci
12. Meeting and Departure of the Betrothed Ursula and Ereo by Carpaccio
13. Procession in St Mark’s Square by Bellini
14. Madonna dell’Arancio by Cima da Conegliano
15. Coronation of the Virgin by Veneziano

Further Reading

Did you enjoy this article on the Accademia Venice highlights? Here is a list of books that we recommend you check out for further information about the Accademia Gallerie and individual artists.

Giovanni Bellini: An Introduction

Delve into the mesmerizing world of Venetian Renaissance painting with Giovanni Bellini: An Introduction. This accessible guide explores the life and work of Bellini, a pivotal figure in Western European art, tracing his evolution from the Gothic style of the early Renaissance to his influential role in the maniera modern.

The book details Bellini’s innovative transition from traditional egg tempera to oil on canvas and his mastery of light and natural landscapes that became foundational to the Venetian school of painting. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a seasoned scholar, this concise and up-to-date exploration of Bellini’s work offers a captivating journey into his lasting impact on Western European painting.

Click on the link to grab your copy of Giovanni Bellini: An Introduction and immerse yourself in Bellini’s world.

Vittore Carpaccio: Master Storyteller of Renaissance Venice

Embark on an authoritative exploration of the life and work of Vittore Carpaccio, a prominent artist of the Venetian Renaissance, with Vittore Carpaccio: Master Storyteller of Renaissance Venice.

This meticulously researched and luxuriously illustrated volume offers a comprehensive view of Carpaccio’s art, celebrated for its fantastical settings and rich detail. Carpaccio’s work captures the sanctity and splendor of Venice at the turn of the sixteenth century, blending careful observation of the urban environment with a taste for the poetic. With insights from distinguished scholars, this study not only emphasizes Carpaccio’s innovative techniques and contributions to Venetian Renaissance painting but also provides an in-depth consideration of the fluctuations in the reception of his work over the past five centuries.

Click on the link to grab your copy of Vittore Carpaccio: Master Storyteller of Renaissance Venice.

Tintoretto: Artist of Renaissance Venice

Celebrate one of Renaissance Italy’s greatest painters with Tintoretto: Artist of Renaissance Venice, published on the 500th anniversary of Tintoretto’s birth. Known for the remarkable energy of his work, Tintoretto is considered one of the three great painters of 16th-century Venice, along with Titian and Paolo Veronese.

This lavishly illustrated study features over forty of Tintoretto’s paintings and a selection of his finest drawings, showcasing the breadth and power of his narrative works. An international group of scholars explores Tintoretto’s artistic activity and situates his life and work within the context of Renaissance Italy, providing a fundamental point of reference for modern scholarship and an essential introduction to the artist’s career and oeuvre.

Click on the link to grab your copy of Tintoretto: Artist of Renaissance Venice.

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And there you have it! Thanks for reading our guide to visiting the Accademia Gallery in Venice. You know how to get there, what paintings not to miss, and a bit of background information on each one. Did we miss your favorite painting? Let us know in the comments below!