ABSTRACT
From the late fifteenth century, cities constructed temporary triumphal arches to welcome important visitors. Such arches either celebrated a city's ruler, whether the liege lord, a conqueror, the local ruler or his bride, or alternatively honoured important visiting allies. Although temporary triumphal arches had become standard ceremonial protocol throughout Europe by the early sixteenth century, Venice's aquatic site and lack of city walls clearly hampered the adoption of this custom as such arches were generally built just outside city gates, and over the major thoroughfares of a city. Doubtless inspired by the success and magnificence of the Paduan arch, the butchers welcomed the dogaressa with a temporary triumphal arch. For the 1557 dogaressal entry, Doge Priuli requested the Venetian guilds to fulfil their traditional role of ornamenting the Palazzo Ducale. A balustrade decorated the top of the facades, where standards displaying meat cleavers flanked the coats of arms of Dogaressa Dandola and Doge Priuli.
