Canaletto
, Italian, 1697-1768
Title
Saint Mark's Square, VeniceDatec.1756
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions
46 x 77 cm
Credit LinePurchased, 1885
Object numberNGI.286
DescriptionCanaletto was the most sophisticated Venetian painter of vedute (views) of his era. During his career he painted hundreds of topographical images of Venice - a substantial number of which are iconic views of St Mark's Square. The artist could only have achieved the extraordinary wide angle presented by our example by using a camera obscura. This was an optical instrument that allowed painters to repeat detailed images with great precision. Alternatively, he may have copied it from one of the many existing engravings of the subject. The perspective is taken from the Procuratie Vecchie and shows, on the left, the Doges' Palace and, only marginally, the Basilica. In the foreground are the Campanile and the long building of the Procuratie Nuove. The scene is a perfect synthesis of light, form and colours.Canaletto's skill in this genre has its origins in the education that he received from his father, a painter of theatrical scenes. As Canaletto's reputation grew his fame spread beyond Italy, in particular to England, where he eventually went to work for nine years.
(National Gallery of Ireland: Essential Guide, 2008)
ProvenanceChristie's, 15 April 1848, J. Newington Hughes Sale, lot 138; bought by Farrer; Charles Cope; Christie's 8 June 1872, Charles Cope Sale, lot 36; bought by Nieuwenhuys; Mr C. Beckett Denison, London; purchased Christie's, London, 13 June 1885, Mr C. Beckett Denison sale, lot 857 Exhibition HistoryCentenary Exhibition, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, October - December 1964
The Architecture of Ireland in Drawings & Paintings, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, 1975
Canaletto - Venezia e i suoi capolavori, Casa dei Carraresi, Treviso, 23 October 2008 - 19 April 2009