The last Goldbeater of Venice: A centuries-old tradition that is disappearing
In the heart of Venice, hidden among quiet alleys and far from the tourist crowds, lies a place that has safeguarded an ancient art for centuries: the craft of the goldbeater.
The Mario Berta Battiloro workshop is the last remaining establishment in the world that produces gold leaf using the same tools and techniques employed in Venice since the 17th century.
This historic workshop, founded in 1926, has kept alive a tradition for which Venice was the leading producer for centuries.
Here, gold is transformed into ultra-thin 8x8 cm leaves through a process that combines technique, mastery, and an unmatched dedication that is now nearly impossible to find.
But this tradition is about to disappear.
The world’s last artisanal gold leaf workshop will soon close its doors, as no one has stepped forward to inherit this profession.
Marino Menegazzo, who received his hammers from his father-in-law, can no longer continue a craft that demands absolute dedication and a profound knowledge of the material.
With him, a knowledge that once made Venice one of the world’s capitals of gold leaf production and application will be lost.
A deep connection between art and craftsmanship
The closure of this workshop is not just a loss for Venice, but for the entire world of craftsmanship and art.
Since 2021, after discovering this extraordinary reality, Stefania Dei Rossi has chosen to exclusively use gold leaf produced by Mario Berta Battiloro in her original drawings and in some home decor collections - most notably the The Goldbeater’s Eight by Eight series.
The purity of Battiloro’s gold leaf - the highest available on the market - and its unparalleled craftsmanship have made each of the artist’s works even more precious. But more than anything, it was the fascination with an artisanal process that has remained unchanged over time that deeply connected Stefania to this reality.
The gold she has used in her works is not just a decorative material; it is the symbol of a tradition, of skilled hands that, with patience and expertise, have transformed the most precious metal into something ethereal and intangible.
Every gold leaf applied carries with it the memory of an art that now seems irreversibly destined to disappear.
A documentary to remember and celebrate the art of the Goldbeater
Facing this imminent closure, Stefania felt the duty and necessity to document the magic of gold leaf production so that this knowledge would not be forgotten.
Days were spent in the workshop of Marino Menegazzo and his wife, Sabrina Berta (the daughter of the goldbeater who passed this invaluable knowledge on to Marino), observing every stage of the gold’s transformation, recording the hypnotic sound of the hammers, collecting stories from those who have worked with gold for nearly fifty years, capturing the technical details of the entire process, and above all, the emotions experienced by these master artisans.
The documentary we are working on will be a journey through a millennia-old tradition - an homage to a craft that made Venice great and has adorned sacred and secular artworks around the world.
But above all, it will be an opportunity to witness an extraordinary technique even after it has vanished forever, and to understand the value of an art that must not be forgotten.
As soon as the documentary is ready, it will be shared across all our platforms. In the meantime, we invite you to follow us for updates and insights into this fascinating project and the entire production of Stefania Dei Rossi’s Oro & Disegni atelier.
A sneak peek with backstage footage
To help pass the time while waiting for the full documentary, we have prepared a short video capturing some behind-the-scenes moments from the filming days.
A small taste of the unique atmosphere of this workshop, in anticipation of the full documentary.
An invitation to reflect
The closure of the Mario Berta Battiloro workshop leaves us with an important question: how can we preserve these ancient skills?
What role do we, as artists, artisans, and lovers of beauty, play in protecting and valuing traditions that are at risk of disappearing forever?
Perhaps the answer lies in telling their stories, in making them known to those who can still be moved by an ancient and perfect gesture.
This documentary is our way of thanking Mr. Marino, Mrs. Sabrina, and all those who, with passion and sacrifice, have kept alive the great tradition of Venetian gold leaf craftsmanship.
