338 THE STONES OF VENICE

palace; and that it had an important front towards the Piazzetta, with which, as we shall see hereafter, the present palace at one period was incorporated. We know, also, that it was a pile of some magnificence, from the account given by Sagornino¹ of the visit paid by the Emperor Otho the Great, to the Doge Pietro Orseolo II. The chronicler says that the emperor “beheld carefully all the beauty of the palace;”* and the Venetian historians express pride in the building’s being worthy of an emperor’s examination. This was after the palace had been much injured by fire in the revolt² against Candiano IV.,† and just repaired, and richly adorned by Orseolo himself, who is spoken of by Sagornino as having also “adorned the chapel of the Ducal Palace” (St. Mark’s) with ornaments of marble and gold.‡ There can be no doubt whatever that the palace at this period resembled and impressed the other Byzantine edifices of the city, such as the Fondaco de’ Turchi, &c., whose remains have been already described; and that, like them, it was covered with sculpture, and richly adorned with gold and colour.

* “Omni decoritate illius perlustrata.”-Sagornino, quoted by Cadorin and Temanza.

† There is an interesting account of this revolt in Monaci, p. 68. Some historians speak of the palace as having been destroyed entirely; but, that it did not even need important restorations, appears from Sagornino’s expression, quoted by Cadorin and Temanza. Speaking of the Doge Participazio, he says: “Qui Palatii hucusque manentis fuerit fabricator.” The reparations of the palace are usually attributed to the successor of Candiano, Pietro Orseolo I.; but the legend, under the picture of that Doge in the Council Chamber, speaks only of his rebuilding St. Mark’s, and “performing many miracles.” His whole mind seems to have been occupied with ecclesiastical affairs; and his piety was finally manifested in a way somewhat startling to the state, by his absconding with a French priest to St. Michael’s, in Gascony, and there becoming a monk.³ What repairs, therefore, were necessary to the Ducal Palace, were left to be undertaken by his son, Orseolo II., above named.

‡ “Quam non modo marmoreo, verum aureo compsit ornamento.”- Temanza, p. 25.

¹ [This is the chronicle of John the Deacon (about 995 A.D.), formerly known as that of Sagornino, because his name is signed to a memorandum written on a blank space; see further, and on the Venetian chronicles generally, The Early History of Venice, by F. C. Hodgson (1901).]

² [In the same revolt the first church of St. Mark was also burnt; see above, p. 73.]

³ [See above, note on p. 72.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]