In Corte Piossi, adjacent to the church of Santa Maria Mater Domine is a building supported by several pillars.
One of the central columns,dated 1575, is decorated with a relief portrayal of the Madonna and Child. It also bears a crude but charming makeshift sign directing tourists to Ca’ Pesaro further along the calle. Ca’ Pesaro, originally a sumptuous and imposing residence built in the 17th century and now an important museum. In the background, a smirking harlequin mask, part of a shop window display, represents the slick commercial ambience of contemporary Venetian street life. The image embodies the unsettling layers of historical reference and modern retail culture to be found in almost every corner of the city.
