a large project of renovation was undertaken at the end of the 19th century, when the palace belonged to the countess de la baume-pluvinel, a french aristocrat and writer under the name of "laurent evrard". she was pleased to surround herself with french and venetian writers, one of whom — henri de régnier — is commemorated by an inscription on the garden wall, saying "in questa casa antica dei dario, henri de regnier—poeta di francia—venezianamente visse e scrisse—anni 1899-1901". the countess is responsible for the staircase, the external chimneys, the majolica stoves, and the fine carvings (vaguely reminiscent of the scuola di san rocco) in the dining room on the second "piano nobile", looking down to the garden, as well as a great deal of stabilization and replacement of marble on the facade.