CanalettoItalian, 1697–1768Mestre, from Vedute
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
As more Englishmen took the grand tour of Europe in the 18th century, Venice saw a huge influx in tourists. In order to meet the demand for the works of the popular Venetian artist Canaletto, the British consul to Venice, Joseph Smith, commissioned Vedute (Views), an album of etchings depicting Venetian landscapes. This print shows the landing place for boats plying between Mestre and Venice. Huddled by the river, this busy commercial center is shown populated with horse-drawn carriages and couples walking along the banks of the waterway.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1922.1381.17
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
Meanwhile, in the life of Canaletto
The whole life1720–1746 · Workplace
Venice
1728–1735
Visentini's etchings after thirty-eight of Canaletto's views
In 1728–35 Smith arranges for thirty-eight of Canaletto's painted vedute to be reproduced in etchings by Antonio Visentini and published under the title “Urbis Venetiarum Prospectus Celebriores ex Antonii Canal”.
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.
