The Ridotto in Venice

The scene takes place in the salone centrale of a ridotto in Venice, probably that of Palazzo Dandolo at San Moise. The ridotti were public spaces, usually located close to theaters, where the wealthy upper classes would mingle with the populace and engage in the principal activity of these locations - gambling. Since most visitors wore masks at the ridotto, it became the obvious location for conspiratorial plots and illicit amorous encounters, thus fuelling the imagination of artists in 18th-century Venice: Longhi, Guardi and Tiepolo all painted numerous scenes of the ridotti and Casanova and Goldoni's writings were both appreciated and inspired by these surroundings.

Longhi's composition relies heavily on an earlier prototype by Francesco Guardi today at Ca' Rezzonico.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 12 minutes): Benedetto Marcello: Oboe concerto in D minor