View up the Grand Canal toward the Rialto, c. 1785
Francesco Guardiexpand_more
Oil on canvasexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fund and a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Bennettexpand_more 56.41
On View in Gallery 307expand_more
This is exactly the kind of painting a British aristocrat would purchase as a memento of his Grand Tour of the major cities of Italy. In the 1700s, the Grand Tour was a way for elite young men to learn about art and history and improve their taste. The Grand Canal, the principal waterway of Venice, winds through the city from the railway station to the Piazza San Marco, where it meets the Adriatic Sea. In this late afternoon view, Francesco Guardi portrayed a section of the canal from a vantage point looking northeast toward the Rialto bridge.
Many of the buildings seen here still exist and are identifiable due to Guardi’s exacting detail. The first two palaces at the far right, the Ca’ Farsetti and the adjacent Palazzo Loredan, today function together as the city hall.
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Details
- Title
- View up the Grand Canal toward the Rialto
- Artist Life
- Italian (Venice), 1712–1793
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 56.41
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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