The Figure of the Collector Daniele Farsetti in the Letters

Abstract

The last setting of the Farsetti picture gallery, the least studied part of the collection owned by this Venetian family, was already attributed to Daniele. Now, two unpublished letters written by Daniele to the Bergamasque Sebastiano Muletti not only confirm his role, but also portray a figure of connoisseur of manuscripts, printed books, artistic literature and, of course, painting. It seems that two main motivations led Daniele in his purchases of paintings: their presence in artistic literature and their state of preservation. These criteria were broadly recognised in late eighteenth-century Venice.