This Hall of the Great Council, built between 1340 and 1355, was the seat of the lower house of the Venetian Parliament. It is impressive both for its immensity (54 meters by 25 meters) and because its harmonious proportions keep it from being overwhelming. Its size was a matter of practicality: when the council was in session, this room had to accommodate as many as 1800 citizens entitled to vote. All the decisions that made the Republic a world power were discussed here.The greatest artists of their time -- Pisanello, Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio, and Titian -- took part in painting the room, but a fire in 1577 destroyed much of their work. Tintoretto and Veronese did the paintings for the new room, along with Palma the Younger and Francesco Bassano. Tintoretto's Paradise fills the entire wall behind the seats of the Doge and the highest officials, its dimensions of 22 by seven meters ranking it as the world's largest oil-painting. Another masterpiece is the ceiling, with panels painted by Veronese picturing Venice surrounded by gods and crowned by Victory. Look on the ceiling also for Doge Ponte Paying Homage to Venice by Tintoretto and Venice Welcoming the Conquered Nations around her Throne by Palma the Younger.