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Giovanni Antonio Canal
"Canaletto"

1697-1768 Italy-Baroque/Rococco

 

Brief Biography-Born in Venice, Canaletto was the son of a theatrical scene artist. Through his father, he gained an exceptional eye for perspective. They worked together on various scene sets for operas in Venice and Rome in 1720. After doing this work, he decided to paint city views rather than the conventional religious path of so many artists. He was impressed by the artist Luca Carlevarijs who painted Venetian sights. Hence Canaletto embarked on doing what he loved most, depicting the city of Venice precisely as it was to him, including rundown areas. He quickly received many commissions and charged what he wanted for his work. In 1726 an Irish impresario named Owen McSwiney came up with the idea of producing paintings for the English nobility on their Grand Tours. Joseph Smith, the British consul in Venice, exported the pictures to England. Horace Walpole named Smith the Merchant of Venice. He also collected Canaletto’s paintings and drawings for himself which he sold in 1762 to George III. With the help of his nephew Bernardo Bellotto who followed Canaletto’s path as a painter of views, Canaletto produced many paintings. When the war of Austrian Succession began, his commissions subsided due to fewer travellers from England. In 1746, he closed his studio and went to England, where he spent the next ten years. He enjoyed commissions painting the Thames and grand country houses. His popularity waned towards the end of his stay, and he returned to Venice in 1756. He spent the remainder of his life in Venice, mainly painting small pictures for tourists. He received minor honours during this period; however, the Venetians never truly appreciated his work. He died in 1768, leaving very few possessions behind.

 

 

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Ranalagh
The Rotonda

Ranalagh The Rotonda

Stone Mason's
Yard

Stone Mason's Yard

Thames and
London City

Thames and London City

Doge
Visiting-

doge visiting

The
Grand Canal

The Grand Canal

Horses of
San Marco

The Horses of San Marco

Walton
Bridge

Walton Bridge

Whitehall and
Privy Garden

Whitehall and Privy Garden

a view of the old
horse guards

a view of the old horse guards and banqueting hall whitehall seen from saint james park

Bacino di
San Marco

Bacino di San Marco

Piazza
San Marco

Piazza San Marco

The Molo
looking West

The Molo Looking West

Grand Canal at
the Salute Church

Grand Canal at the Salute Church

Ducal
Palace

Ducal Palace

The
Arsenal

Entrance to the Arsenal

From
Palazo Balbi

Northeast from Palazo Balbi

Westminster
Abbey

Westminster Abbey

The
Molo

The Molo

Island in
the Lagoon

Island in the Lagoon

Scala
dei Giganti

Scala dei Giganti

Grand
Canal

Grand Canal and the Church of the Salute

Eton
College Chapel

Eton College Chapel

NE Toward
the Rialto

North-East toward the Rialto

View
with Portico

View with Portico

Northumberland
House

Northumberland House


Regatta

Regatta on the Grand Canal

The
Piazzetta

The Piazzetta

Rio
dei Mendicanti

Rio dei Mendicanti

Ruins
of the Forum

Ruins of the Forum

San
Marco Square

San Marco Square

Ruins and
Porta Portello

Ruins and Porta Portello

The
Bucentoro

Return of the Bucentoro to the Molo on Ascension Day

Capriccio
River

Capriccio River Landscape

Santi
Giovanni-

Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Upper
Reaches

Upper Reaches

Westminster
Bridge

Westminster Bridge

Classical
Ruins

Capriccio with Classical Ruins

Punta Della
Dogana

Punta Della Dogana

Warwick
Castle

Warwick Castle

Rialto
Bridge

Rialto Bridge