The Baron Giorgio Franchetti (1865–1922), was born to a prominent family of Turin.

Initially trained in a military school, he preferred the study of music and collecting art.

However, by 1891 he had moved to Venice, and there soon purchased the then dilapidated Ca' d'Oro and set upon restoring the building, as possible, to its 15th-century layout.

He supervised much of the restoration, added the mosaic floor collections, and constructed a chapel to house his Mantegna St Sebastian.

[1] The Baron's collection form the nucleus of the displays, which are augmented by other works from local buildings.