Own a Piece of the Venetian Palazzo That Shaped the Art World During the Gilded Age
Artists such as John Singer Sargent and Claude Monet created historic paintings within the walls of this restored, century-old palazzo along the Grand Canal
Few addresses have shaped art history like Venice’s Palazzo Barbaro. This centuries-old palace, overlooking the Grand Canal, served as the creative epicenter of transatlantic culture during the Gilded Age, where American wealth, European artists, and literary scholars converged. It acted as a living salon, a cultural meeting point, and an atelier for artists and was often dubbed the “American artistic salon” or “Barbaro Circle” for its notable guests. Within its walls, major art pieces were created. Here, John Singer Sargent painted An Interior in Venice (1899); Claude Monet painted 37 works, including Palazzo Dario (1908); and writer Henry James finished The Aspern Papers. Even American art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner, who rented the property in summers, fell so deeply in love with the palazzo that she replicated its design for her eponymous art museum in Boston.
The palazzo’s artistic legacy began in 1885 when Boston Brahmins Daniel and Ariana Curtis emigrated to Venice seeking a more cultured life in Europe at a time during the Gilded Age when upper-class Americans relocated to countries like England, France, and Italy, as a status symbol and to pursue artistic and intellectual freedom. The Curtis family purchased the decaying Palazzo Barbara and embarked on a significant restoration to preserve its Italian heritage, which made it a place guests wanted to return to. Their son, Ralph, studied art in Paris and would bring home friends and colleagues to the palazzo, including visionaries like Sargent (a distant relative). Sargent then introduced friends and artists to the family, who continued to welcome guests year after year. Artists fell in love with the palazzo for its shimmering natural light and views over the Grand Canal.
Palazzo Barbaro, built for the noble Barbaro family, encompasses two distinct structures: a Venetian Gothic-style palace designed in 1425 and a Baroque wing added in the 1690s. It’s considered one of Venice’s least-altered Gothic masterpieces and has been restored many times over the past few hundred years while retaining some of its key original features. For the first time in generations, a piece of this storied address—the Palazzo Barbaro Penthouse—is on the market for $8 million.
Typical of Venice’s ultra-private luxury real estate market, the current ownership structure of the palazzo, including how many residences exist within the buildings, remains discreet. This penthouse, however, occupies the palazzo’s most coveted position on the top few floors.
The residence spans 5,845 square feet with three bedrooms, two full baths, and two half baths. It’s divided over multiple levels with elevator access, and its uppermost level provides access to a Venetian altana, a traditional wooden rooftop terrace, with 360-degree views over Venice. Other rooms include a grand main hall overlooking the canal, a living room, a kitchen, and a spectacular library with preserved frescoes. Many historic elements remain, like elaborate decorative features, traditional Venetian flooring, stucco details, and oversized windows.
It’s located in the San Marco district near Campo Santo Stefano, historically a cultural gathering place for writers and artists. The property is within walking distance of Accademia Bridge, Palazzo Franchetti, and Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The home is listed with Arnaldo Fusello of Dimora Italia Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.