Giuseppe Benoni

Giuseppe Benoni (1618–1684) was an Italian architect, active during the Baroque period, mainly in Venice.

Biography

He was born either in Udine or Trento.[1] He worked on a number of engineering problems for the Venetian Republic. He appears to have moved to Venice at about the age of forty, and gained the title of "Proto" to the Magistrate of Water.[2] In 1675-76, work began on renovation of the structures and decoration of the Dogana da Mar, the customs house across the canal from the Doge's palace. A venetian council in 29 August 1676 requested proposals for refurbishing the Dogana and received designs from Benoni, Longhena, Andrea Cominelli, and Giuseppe Sardi (Venice). Only the former two designs went for further study by a committee formed by the following Procurators: Antonio Bernardo, Giovanni Battista Cornaro, Alvise Pisani, Giovanni Sagredo cavalier, Francesco Morosini cavalier, Leonardo Pesaro, Giulio Giustinian, Alvise Mocenigo IV, Silvestro Valier cavalier, and Alessandro Contarini.[3] They ended seclecting Benoni's project, priced at 6000 ducats over Loghena's project costing twice as much.

In a publication about the project, Benoni states:[4]

(I have arranged) it in such a way that it stands out and adorns more than the quality of the conspicuous site in which it is to be erected... in order to make the distal end similar on both sides, despite the narrowness and irregularity of the site, I procured to make it front and regular in shape, and which together shows strength and firmness. I have considered the distance and sites of all around from which to take the view, and have allowed for an eye, in all the parts that surround it, to have a variety of views to be delighted, and formed... loggias to allow comfortable and covered transit from the sides flank the canals and warehouses.

The building was built with the views of the adjacent Salute in mind. The building has a rustication appropriate for a government office, much like Jacopo Sansovino's Zecca (or mint). It is decorated by two bronze atlantes who bear a gilded sphere surmounted by the goddess Fortune holding a wind vane.

Sources
  1. Notizie di Guiseppe Benoni, architetto ed ingegnere, By Francesco Lazzari, Editor Alvisopoli, Venice (1840); page 8.
  2. F. Lazzari, page 9
  3. F. Lazzari, page 21.
  4. dispostolo in maniera tale, che spichi e sia d'ornamento maggiore alla qualità del sito cospiquo nel quale deve essere eretto; l'ho fatto con l'ordine e legature corrispondenti al rimanente della fabbrica già cominciata e con le rustiche uniforme alle poste in opera; per render unita, e congiunta la fronte alli due fianchi ho insieme procurato non ostante la ristrettezza e irregolarità del sito di renderlo di gran fronte et di figura regolare, e che unitamente dimostri fortezza e sodezza. Ho considerato la distanza e siti d'ogni intorno da quali prendesi la veduta, et hauto mira l'occhio trovi in tutte le parti che lo circonda varietà di vedute da dilettarsi, et impiegarsi, al che servono gl'interculunnii che formano le loggie per transito, e comodo coperto, oltre, che quelle dalle parti fiancheggiano li canali fondamente e magazzeni, F. Lazzari, pages 24-25.


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