Canaletto (Venice 1697-Venice 1768)
Venice: The upper reach of the Grand Canal, looking south c. 1734
Pen and ink, over free and ruled pencil and pinpointing | 19.9 x 27.1 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 907476
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A drawing of the upper reach of the Grand Canal in Venice. On the right is the point where the Grand Canal meets the Canale di Santa Chiara.
At the left, in shadow, is the convent wall of Corpus Domini, above which protrudes the belltower of that church, the roof of Santa Croce, and the belltower and tribune of San Nicolò da Tolentino. At far right is the corner of the convent of Santa Chiara, beyond which is the mouth of the canal of the same name, followed by the buildings lining the Fondamente di Santa Chiara and della Croce, few of which survive today. Today the view is dominated by the multi-storey car park of Piazzale Roma to the right.
Canaletto studied the view from exactly this point on five openings of the Sketchbook, which formed the basis for paintings at Woburn Abbey and from the Harvey group. The paintings correspond to the present drawing in overall composition but with the boats and figures changed in each case.
Catalogue entry adapted from Canaletto in Venice, London, 2005Provenance
Purchased by George III from Consul Joseph Smith, 1762
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Medium and techniques
Pen and ink, over free and ruled pencil and pinpointing
Measurements
19.9 x 27.1 cm (sheet of paper)
Other number(s)
RL 7476
