Venetian art connoisseur, interior designer, and hotelier Francesca Bortolotto Possati knows the intricacies of Venice. To have her as a guide is to experience firsthand her passion for the private side of the mythic city whose daily visitors outnumber its population. Join her to visit artists’ studios, elegant Venetian friends, and palaces’ secrets. Everywhere one wanders, a sense of history saturates the buildings and landscapes, harking back to the artists of the Renaissance and the chic masquerade balls of centuries past.

The discerning eye of photographer Robyn Lea makes this book a revelation of the Venice of dreams, which will surely allow readers to see this iconic destination through new eyes.

A sentimental foreword by Jeremy Irons perfectly complements this stunning volume.

Francesca Bortolotto Possati is the CEO of Venice’s Bauer Hotel group. A native of the city, she is greatly involved in its culture as a patron of the arts and board member of Save Venice Inc., a foundation dedicated to restoring important works of Venetian architecture and art. She also sponsors the Zuecca Project Space, a non-profit area that hosts exhibitions for local and international art communities. Bortolotto Possati presents the Ca’ Foscari Award at Venice’s international literary festival each year. She co-authored Celebrate in Venice with Csaba dalla Zorza, published in 2012.

British actor Jeremy Irons trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and began his career in 1969, appearing in the West End theatre production of Godspell. He made his Broadway debut in 1984 with The Real Thing, directed by Mike Nichols, winning a Tony Award for Best Actor. Irons is also well known for his television and film work, including The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Dead Ringers, Reversal of Fortune, The Mission and Lolita. He is one of the few actors honored with the Triple Crown of Acting: Academy, Emmy, and Tony awards.

Over the last two decades, Australian-born Robyn Lea has become an internationally renowned photographer, TV commercial director, and writer. She has worked around the globe for clients such as Peroni, Kodak, Time, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her book Dinner with Jackson Pollock: Recipes, Art & Nature was published by Assouline in 2015.

264 pages
150 illustrations
English language
Released in February 2017

W 9.76 x L 12.99 x D 1.45 in
Hardcover

Since its beginnings in 1994, Assouline has been dedicated to creating books that are as informational as they are beautiful works of art. The respect for the product and the process of creation is evident in every facet – the traditional technique of hand-binding covers, the imagery that transports the reader to another place and time, the luxurious thickness of each page. The passion and the attention to detail are like that of an haute couture atelier.

Known worldwide for bringing luxury to the publishing industry, Assouline produces one-of-a-kind books on fashion, art, architecture, photography, design, and travel, weaving a story of L’Art de Vivre with every publication. The Ultimate Collection is the epitome of the Assouline brand as it offers an unparalleled standard of excellence in the 21st century. Each book from the collection pays homage to the time-honored craft of bookbinding and pictures are individually hand-tipped, a process which requires cutting, gluing, and placing each photo onto the page. This level of craftsmanship yields the highest quality books in the world, truly pieces of art in their own right.