Speaker: Dana E. Katz
Joshua C. Taylor associate professor of art history and humanities, Reed College, Portland, Oregon

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Lost Treasure of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice

In 1581, Francesco Sansovino wrote in his guidebook to Venice that Jews “prefer to live in Venice rather than in any other part of Italy. Since they are not subject to violence or tyranny here as they are elsewhere, . . . reposing in most singular peace, they enjoy this city almost like a true promised land.” As Sansovino suggests, the ghetto offered Jews the opportunity to settle in Venice without the fear of physical violence. Although not the land of biblical promise, Venice provided Jews a segregated space to dwell with relative security. In this lecture, Dana E. Katz explores the spaces of the ghetto to understand how Jews lived in Venice and how Christians lived with Jews.

Questions? E-mail lectures@mfah.org

Tickets
$5 MFAH Members | $8 Nonmembers + museum admission
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