Vettor Grimani

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Vettor Grimani (* between 1495 and 1497 in Venice; † 24. August 1558 was procurator of San Marco and patron.

Vettor Grimani was born into one of the powerful and rich Venetian families. The Grimani belonged to the “Case Nuove” of the Patricia of Venice. His grandfather was the doge Antonio Grimani. He was married to Elisabetta Giustinian.

In 1523 Vettor Grimani was elected procurator. Around 1527/28 he acquired the Cà del Duca, a palace on the Grand Canal, south of San Samuele, which around 1450 had been commissioned by Andrea and Marco Cornaro, the father of the Caterina Cornaro Queen of Cyprus, but had not come beyond the foundation and a corner of the ground floor. Grimani wanted the palace to be completed elaborately, a project that did not come about. There is only a draft drawing of the planned construction, which is attributed to Michele Sanmicheli or Jacopo Sansovino.

He was sent to the French court as an envoy of the Republic in 1543 and 1547. In 1553 he was a candidate for the Doge election, but lost Marcantonio Trevisan.

Together with his brother Giovanni Grimani, he was an active promoter of art and culture in Venice at that time. Important projects in Venice, such as the reconstruction of San Francesco della Vigna, the construction of the Biblioteca Marciana, the loggetta and church of San Geminiano in St. Mark's Square, which was demolished during the French occupation of Venice, the construction of the Scala d'oro in the Doge's Palace, all by Sansovino, as well as the expansion and furnishing of Santa Maria Formosa were conceived and co-financed with his help.

Together with his brother, he had the Palazzo Grimani a Santa Maria Formosa magnificently furnished, including ceiling paintings by Francesco Salviati.

When Vettor Grimani died in 1558, he was heavily in debt.

Literature
John Law as Vettor Grimani. The Dictionary of Arts. Harmondsworth 1999.

Weblinks
Palazzo Grimani

Individual evidence

patrons
Person (Venice)
Biblioteca Marciana
Vettor
Historical Person (Italy)
Born in the 15th century
Died in 1558
Man