In 1291 Venice moved every glass furnace to Murano for fear of fire, creating a monopoly that produced cristallo, employed Carlo Scarpa at Venini, and survived a punishing 2022 energy crisis with dozens of workshops still firing today.
venice
The altarpiece too big for its own gallery ceiling
Titian’s Assunta, painted 1516–1518 for the Frari in Venice, is nearly seven metres tall and helped define Venetian colour against Florentine drawing. Exiled to the Accademia from 1817 to 1919, it was conserved again between 2018 and 2022.