03 May 2008

The 17th century rat?



Something else to file under “Weird Venetian Stuff” – this winsome, life-size rat, very well incised into a pillar of the Palazzo Contarini Pisani at the San Felice vaporetto station, along with the date MDCXXXXIIII (1644 for those readers who have forgotten their Roman numerals).


Who would make such an effort? The work is smooth and deep. And can the date possibly be real? I hope so, but I don’t really care. That rat’s so darn cute, almost smiling. And why not? Venice is Paradise for rats!

He always reminds me…

Venetians have an expression: Fato el buso, pol passar qualunque sorze.
“Once the hole is made, any mouse can get in.”