This conservation was made possible with support from the Immediate Response Fund.

The wellhead in the courtyard of the Ca’ d’Oro is one of the most beautiful wellheads in Venice. It was carved from a single block of red Verona marble by Bartolomeo Bon in 1427-28 and is ornately decorated with figures of Justice, Fortitude, and Charity, each flanked by lions and surrounded by fine acanthus leaves.

This wellhead also has a fascinating history: it was removed from the palazzo and sold before Giorgio Franchetti rescued it from an antique dealer in Paris and returned it to its rightful place at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Today the Ca’ d’Oro is home to the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti. Visitors to the museum are able to admire the wellhead in the courtyard together with the early twentieth-century mosaic floor that was made by Giorgio Franchetti himself.

The wellhead of the Ca’ d’Oro is made from red Verona marble, a stone that is particularly vulnerable to cracking, flaking, and discoloration caused by constant exposure to rising damp and the salt deposits left by seawater after occurrences of acqua alta. In November and December 2019, the wellhead was repeatedly submerged in several feet of salt water, and the red marble immediately showed signs of discoloration caused by a chemical reaction with the corrosive saltwater.

Conservators are now conducting scientific testing to determine the best methods to treat the delicate marble and protect the wellhead against future prolonged exposure to harsh environmental conditions.