Cathedral of St. Mark and Clock Tower, Venice, Italy. The church is located on the eastern end of Saint Mark's Square, the former political and religious centre of the Republic of Venice, and is attached to the Doge's Palace. The present structure is the third church, begun probably in 1063 to express Venice's growing civic consciousness and pride. To convey the republic's wealth and power, the original brick façades and interior walls were embellished over time with precious stones and rare marbles, primarily in the thirteenth century. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople as a result of the Venetian participation in the Fourth Crusade. Among the plundered artefacts brought back to Venice were the four ancient bronze horses that were placed prominently over the entry. By 1490 an old clock at the north-west corner of St Mark's church was in a very bad state and in 1493 the Senate commissioned the construction of a new clock. The Clock Tower was built during 1496 and 1497 and the mechanism of the clock was then built into it under the supervision of the Ranieri. No expense was spared in the decoration of the tower and the clock, using quantities of ultramarine and gold leaf. Excellent contrast and tonality. Photographer: Carlo Naya. 10.5 x 13.5 in. 26.67 x 34.29 cm. Image is larger than scan.