See the rich collection of Venetian paintings up to the 18th century, as well as some splendid examples from the Byzantine and Gothic 14th century to the artists of the Renaissance. Unparalleled works by Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto, and Titian until Gianbattista Tiepolo are on view, as well as the Vedutisti of the eighteenth century, Canaletto, Guardi, Bellotto, and Longhi.

Founded in 1750 by the Venetian Senate as Venice’s school of painting, sculpture, and architecture, the school was one of the first to study and develop art restoration. The Accademia was renamed the Accademia Reale di Belle Arti and moved to its present premises in 1807 by order of the Napoleonic occupying forces. After the suppression of religious congregations and public Venetian magistrates, a large quantity of art works was confiscated. A selection of masterpieces was sent to Paris, to be shown in the Louvre Museum.

In Venice, many paintings of the local school from the 14th to the 18th centuries were rescued from dispersion and sale by the Accademia gallery, which functioned as a didactic collection for young artists. In order to include a systematic overview of Italian art, the Accademia strove to purchase works from the most important Italian schools, but it was decided later to give preference to regional works.