Villa Barbaro at Maser Historical Timeline

Origins

The Barbaro brothers were Venetian patricians of an unusual kind: Daniele was a humanist and translator of Vitruvius, Marcantonio a diplomat. They commissioned the villa around 1554 on family land at Maser.

Turning points

Daniele's Vitruvius translation, illustrated by Palladio, was published in 1556 -- so client and architect were collaborators on a book about architecture while building this house together.

Influential people

Veronese frescoed the interior around 1560-61. Why he and Palladio never worked together again is unknown, and the absence makes this building unique.

Cultural evolution

The villa was a working agricultural estate as well as a retreat -- the long barchesse either side of the central block housed farm functions, which was the whole Palladian villa idea.

Present-day significance

Inscribed by UNESCO in 1996 as part of the Palladian villas of the Veneto. It remains privately owned and lived in, and the estate still produces wine.

• Wikipedia