CanalettoItalian, 1697–1768Mestre
About the work
In the museum's own words — in Dutch
Een aanlegplaats voor schepen in le Barche, een plaats in Mestre. Op de voorgrond links de façade van een herberg met wapenschild op de gevel. Verschillende andere gebouwen liggen aan het kanaal. Op de voorgrond verschillende figuren en een koets.
Rijksmuseum
Particulars
- Accession number
- RP-P-1952-280
Meanwhile, in the life of Canaletto
The whole life1719–1720
Rome: Pannini, van Wittel and the turn to the veduta
In Rome Canal comes to know the work of the vedutista Giovanni Paolo Pannini and begins to paint views of Venice; his love of landscape painting grows stronger through contacts with the Dutch artists working in Rome, in particular Gaspar van Wittel. Soon he probably realises that the conventions of stage design stand in the way of his natural gift.
until 1728
The association with Joseph Smith begins
Sometime before 1728 Canaletto begins his association with Joseph Smith, an English businessman and collector living in Venice, who is appointed British Consul there in 1744; Smith will become the artist's principal agent and patron.
c. 1729 – 1735
Smith as agent: a “market of taste” for the Venetian veduta
Joseph Smith — a banker, art dealer and later British consul in Venice — creates a “market of taste” for the Venetian veduta among British aristocrats touring Italy and, as Canaletto's commercial agent from about 1729 to 1735, in effect controls the artist's work to the benefit of them both. Among the young painter's buyers is also the Prince of Liechtenstein.
1746
Moving to London because of wars and a collapsing market
Smith inspires Canaletto to travel to London; because of the wars shaking continental Europe he decides in 1746 to move to England, where he will live for the next ten years.
1762
George III buys Smith's collection for £20,000
