Giovanni Antonio Canal, called CANALETTO
Venetian 1697-1768
Bacino di S. Marco: from the Piazzetta
c.1735–45
oil on canvas
131.4 x 163.2 cm
Felton Bequest 1986
E1-1986

Canaletto painted many views of Venice for the burgeoning tourist market, in particular for wealthy Englishmen on the 'Grand Tour'.

This painting is one of four works by Canaletto which were commissioned by William Holbech for his house in Warwickshire, England. Holbech spent fifteen years in Venice and knew the artist well, and Canaletto may have had a hand in designing the architectural setting of the works when they were installed in Holbech's home.

Canaletto painted evocative rather than topographically accurate renderings of Venice and he took some liberties with the placement and proportions of buildings to create balanced and appealing compositions. This view looks southwest into the Bacino. To the right is a corner of the Sansovino Library and the Column of St Theodore. Across the Grand Canal is the dome of Santa Maria della Salute and the Dogana with the golden orb. On the Giudecca in the distance is il Redentore, designed by Palladio.