Art Underfoot

The mosaic floor of Ca' d'Oro in Venice is not old at all. Designed and laid down in the 20th century, it nevertheless evokes the Cosmati floors of Roman churches, using colors passed down from antiquity.

Giorgio Franchetti, who bought Ca' d'Oro to house his art collection, designed and partially installed the mosaics himself. He drew inspiration from the Byzantine tradition and Venice’s most celebrated floor mosaics—including those of San Marco, Santa Maria e San Donato in Murano, and Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello. Sadly, he passed away before this magnificent project was completed.

Standing in the midst of this geometric wonder in the 21st century, I understand how deeply Franchetti connected with the past—and, though not a native Venetian, how perfectly in sync he was with the city and its art. In turn, I find my own connection to Franchetti and to art history through the magical allure of Venice. It simply took me a little time to arrive here: I discovered the mosaics of Ca' d'Oro on my 47th trip to Venice.

These mosaics were not designed to serve an ego, but to harmonize with the beauty of the room housing them. Rather than repeating a single motif throughout, the design effortlessly guides you from one pattern to the next. One space expands into many, then resolves back into a unified whole as you step aside or rest on one of the surrounding marble benches. It is not a room to be absorbed in a single glance; you want to take it in slowly, leaving with a quiet anticipation for your next visit.