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The magnificent palace was built in the second half of the 17th century for the Pesaro family, by the great Venetian baroque architect, Baldassarre Longhena, who also designed the church Santa Maria della Salute and the Ca’ Rezzonico. On his death in 1682, it was completed by Gian Antonio Gaspari in 1710, in compliance with the original project. During the long years of its construction, the palace was constantly enriched by an equally important process of interior decoration.

The great art collections of the Pesaro family were completely dispersed by 1830. The last Pesaro family member auctioned most of it in London.

The palace passed on firstly to the Gradenigo family, then to the Armenian Mechitarist Fathers, and was finally bought by the Bevilacqua family. Duchess Felicita Bevilacqua La Masa donated it to the city in 1898, as a Museum of Modern Art.

In 1902, the Venetian Town Council decided to host there the municipal collection of Modern Art, which had been started in 1897, when the second Venice Biennale was held. Between 1908 and 1924, the mezzanine level was used to host the historic Bevilacqua La Masa exhibitions, which, in lively contrast with the Venice Biennale, favored a generation of young artists, including Boccioni, Casorati, Gino Rossi and Arturo Martini. Over the years, the Modern Art collection was enriched by acquisitions and donations. Up unto the 1950s, European Art was favored; focusing more on Italian Art from the 1960s onwards.

(Summarized information from the website of the museum and other sources.)