One of Venice’s foremost institutions of art, L’Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia was founded in 1750 by the Venetian Senate. It contains some of the city’s finest artistic treasures and out of it evolved the gallery established by Napoleon in 1807 during the period he held Italy.The rooms reflect the rich diversity that is Venice herself – one of Europe’s main trading centres for centuries.The Accademia’s collection of paintings span five centuries of art. There are the Byzantium works, imported from the Middle East some by conquest, others by purchase. Polyptychs by Veneziano from the 14th century are one example. The 15th century Gothic art of Fiore and Vivarini represent two more.