Curated by Camilla Pietrabissa and Michele Nicolaci.

Within the halls of the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia, not only are the masterpieces we all know preserved, but also the surprising insights that premodern European art can offer on the contemporary world.

Through a walk among paintings and drawings by different artists, this guide combines the historical perspective of art criticism with a forward-looking vision, addressing fundamental ethical questions that revolve around our relationship with the environment. The journey begins with the artworks and leads to the transformation of the Venetian rural landscape and its lagoon, the fragility of artistic supports in relation to the elements, the figure of Saint Francis as an icon of environmentalism, and the quest for the perfect blue to depict a stormy sea.

One of Venice’s most visited museums is thus revealed in a new light, through the ecological narratives offered by painting—a valuable stimulus for reflecting on the challenges of the Anthropocene.

With contributions by:
Alan Braddock, Francesca Borgo, Giovanni Careri, Emma Cyr and Jane da Mosto, Valentina Ciciliot, Olivia Laing, Peter N. Miller, Myriam Pilutti Namer, Camilla Pietrabissa, James Pilgrim, Jonathan Skinner, Tiziano Tempesta.

Available from March 6, 2026.

Language: English.