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The Piazza San Marco in Venice

Around 1723-1724

Canaletto, 1697-1768

Oil on canvas
Height : 141.50 cm
Width : 204.50 cm

Located in: Room 17

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Viewing Notes

Canaletto was the leading painter of city views, or vedute, in eighteenth-century Venice. This early work, which nonetheless displays the most outstanding features of his style, depicts the most famous square in Venice from a high viewpoint, thus ensuring a broader frame for the composition. The horizontal line formed in the background by the façades of St Mark's and the Doge's Palace contrasts sharply with the vertical thrust of the Campanile, while the Procuratie lining both sides of the square give depth to the perspective. Another distinguishing feature of Canaletto's work was the painstaking rendering of all the elements that appear in his works, designed to create atmosphere in his view paintings.

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Artwork History

Prince of Liechtenstein, Vienna; Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, Lugano, 1956; on loan to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 1992; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 1993.

Tags
XVIII Century Italian Painting
Artist Information

Canaletto ( Canaletto)

  • Born
    Venice, Italy
  • Died
    Venice, Italy

Active Period: 1697-1768

Canaletto learned the basic principles of painting by executing large theatrical sets, a trade that he learned from his father Bernardo Canal. In 1719 he and his father travelled to Rome where Canaletto encountered the work of Giovanni Paolo Panini who specialised in classical ruins and panoramic urban views. The work of Luca Carlevarijs and Marco Ricci also played an important role in the development of Canaletto's style. On his return to Venice in 1720 he registered in the painters' guild and appears in their records until 1767. Canaletto's first known views of Venice date to the 1720s and were commissions from Stefano Conti and the Prince of Liechtenstein. Canaletto's friendship with the British consul, Joseph Smith, also began at this period. Smith was his principal client and responsible for promoting his work in England. Between 1740 and 1741 the artist travelled along the Brenta canal, producing numerous drawings and paintings. In 1746 he left for England where he remained until 1756, although making a number of short trips abroad. During his time in England, Canaletto depicted views of the countryside and of London. In 1760 he was again in Venice, where he resumed his activities although his creative powers were by now in decline. In 1763 the artist was made a member of the Academy of Painting and Sculpture. In addition to his work as a painter, Canaletto was also a draughtsman and printmaker, producing various series of etchings including one for Consul Smith entitled Vedute altre prese dai luoghi altre ideate. Much of Canaletto's oeuvre was painted for foreign collectors who acquired his works as souvenirs while on the Grand Tour.

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Artwork Name Artist Name
Portrait of a Lady Baldung Grien, Hans
Saint Sebastian Bronzino,
The Piazza San Marco in Venice Canaletto,
Saint Catherine of Alexandria Caravaggio,
Young Knight in a Landscape Carpaccio, Vittore
The Solitude. Recollection of Vigen, Limousin Corot, Jean-Baptiste-Camille
Portrait of Peasant Cézanne, Paul
Swaying Dancer (Dancer in Green) Degas, Edgar
Christ and the Samaritan Woman Duccio di Buoninsegna,
Jesus among the Doctors Dürer, Albrecht
The Annunciation El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos),
The Annuciation Diptych Eyck, Jan van
Mata Mua (In Olden Times) Gauguin, Paul
Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni Ghirlandaio, Domenico
Les Vessenots à Auvers Gogh, Vincent van
View of the Giudecca Canal and the Zattere Guardi, Francesco
Portrait of Henry VIII of England Holbein, the Younger, Hans
Hotel Room Hopper, Edward
Fränzi in front of Carved Chair Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig
The Dream Marc, Franz
Charing Cross Bridge Monet, Claude
Self-portrit wearing a Hat and two Chains Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn,
Woman with a Parasol in a Garden Renoir, Pierre-Auguste
Venus and Cupid Rubens, Peter Paul
View of Naarden Ruisdael, Jacob Isaacksz. van
The West Façade of the Church of Saint Mary in Utrecht Saenredam, Pieter Jansz.
The Death of Hyacinthus Tiepolo, Giambattista
Piazza Navona, Rome Wittel (Vanvitelli), Caspar Adriaansz. van
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