Thomas Schütte at the Dogana, Venice

Bill and I love to discover new artists. We were pleased to discover François Pinault's collection of works by Thomas Schütte at the Punta della Dogana in Venice.

A monumental statue of Mother Earth confronts visitors at the entrance to the gallery. Pretty stern lady.

Man in the Wind, 2018. Schütte had trouble getting his maquette to stand up. He covered the feet and then liked the "stuck in the mud" look of the result. Nice accident.

An Old Testament look to this figure.

One of four Fratelli (Brothers) from 2012. It does have a 19th century Italian look.

A strange, monumental head, with a rope around its neck. He doesn't look pleased.

His heads don't look like anyone else's work.

Pinault has also been collecting works on paper.

Again, they don't look like anyone else's work.

Schütte commissioned the master glass makers of Murano to produce a series of portrait heads.

One of three figures with the title Three Truly Great Minds. They look to me like they were made from hand-rolled "snakes" of plasticine.

One of Schütte's experiments with minimalism. Definitely a tad creepy, no?

A traditional looking figure but lacking a face.He reminded Bill of a pétanque player.

The face of the artist, from a gallery documentary.

A gorgeous monumental ceramic head: Großer Frauenkopf (Large Woman's Head), 2021. Again the portrait reminds us a bit of 19th century art.

We took a traghetto to St Mark's Square. It was scary to be on a small craft in the wide mouth of the lagoon. 

We looked back at the Punta della Dogana. What a stunning location for a private gallery!

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, 2025

A short distance east of the Accademia on the Grand Canal we find Peggy Guggenheim's famous private art collection.

On our walk to the collection Bill and I found this fun portrait of the collector. We have also found portraits of women with the Superman logo in Rome and Naples.

We enter through the conservation laboratory. Robert Delaunay's Windows Open, 1912, is being restored.

Cabinet of pigments in the Restoration Lab.

Among the sculptures in the garden, Max Ernst's Young Woman in the Form of a Flower, 1944, stood out.

Every time we visit I stand in front of Picasso's Man in a Striped Jersey, 1939. That palate of greys is so satisfying.

Wes Anderson said recently that the design of his Grand Budapest Hotel is directly inspired by this Joseph Cornell assemblage: Setting for a Fairy Tale, 1942.

Calder made this Silver Bedhead for Peggy in 1943.

He made these earrings for her in 1938.

Joan Mitchell painted this in 1962.

Kandinsky's Upward, 1929, with tourists.

The artist Julius Bissier was new to us. We liked his watercolours, 1959-1962, 

Here's a closer look at his watercolour 16 July 1960-G.

The Guggenheim fronts onto the Grand Canal. Here is the name on the side of the building.

Visitors arriving by boat are greeted by Marino Marini's Angel of the City. The metal penis is removable.

View of the Grand Canal from the Guggenheim.

We exit through the garden. Bill was fascinated by the sight of the nearby palaces and domes.

Accademia Museum, Venice 2025

The Accademia Museum on the Grand Canal in Venice is one of the best art museums in the world.

It has its own vaporetto stop.

Bill and I were delighted by Paolo Veneziano's Baptism of Christ (Santa Chiara Polyptych), 1340.

When I saw this Jacobello del Fiore I thought of Oscar Wilde: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."

I was surprised by the modernity of this smokey Madonna by Lorenzo Veneziano (from a 14th century Annunciation)  

The museum has at least two dozen paintings of the Madonna and Child by Giovanni Bellini. This 1487 canvas is my current favourite.

There is something mysterious and alluring in Carpaccio's Dream of St Ursula, late 15th century.

Titain painted this Pieta in 1576 to hang over his tomb. It is his last painting.

Across the room Bill took this detail of the angel Gabriel from a 1587 Veronese Annunciation.

On the other half of the painting we find the Virgin.

The full canvas here.

Nearby is Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi, 1573. 

The woman who was seated on the right has risen to look at the dog in the centre of the canvas.

The dog is looking at a cat under the dinner table.

The Accademia's rooms flow nicely from one to another.

Wonders abound -- walk through a door, turn around and find Titian's Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple, 1538.

Durer sketched this Venetian local in a visit to the city in 1508. It was included in a temporary exhibition called Corpi Moderni (Modern Bodies), 

A Trip Down the Grand Canal, 2025

Most people's experience of Venice begins with a vaporetto (ferry) ride from the train station to St Mark's Square.

It is thrilling to be out on the water, and you never know what strange types you will meet. 

Bill and my first ferry ride down the Grand Canal is burned into our memories.

My favourite building, the Ca d'Oro, is a fine museum.

Side canals branch out from the main canal, hinting at the wonders beyond.

The canal is lined by mooring poles where boats and gondolas can tie up.

The famous Rialto bridge is about halfway down the canal.

Here's an intimate building: a hotel? I love the Islamic influence in the shapes of the windows.

The Islamic/Arabic influence is everywhere in Venice.

On the ferry you can spot the local Venetians as they are rarely looking out the windows.

They prefer each other's company, no doubt for local gossip.

Boats of all kinds, public and private, fill the waterway.

We found lots and lots of gondolas this year (2025).

One day we got off at the Accademia bridge to visit the Accademia Gallery: a Venice must-see.

As noon approaches all creatures start to think about lunch.

St Mark's Square and the Palazzo Ducale looking rocked by the rough waters. Is it really sinking into the sea?

Now the Canal widens into the lagoon. Change boats. The island of San Giorgio Maggiore is only a short ride away.