Bacino di San Marco, Venice

Affluent eighteenth-century visitors to the enchanting city of Venice delighted in taking home painted topographical views known as vedute. Canaletto, one of the foremost vedute painters, here animates the entrance to Venice with cargo boats and gondolas that lead the eye back to precisely rendered buildings along the shore. Clearly identifiable are the gothic intricacies of the Doge's palace at left and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore at right. Light from the cloudy sky, dappling the water with shadow, gives the view grandeur and unity. Title Bacino di San Marco, Venice Creator Lifespan 1697 - 1768 Creator Nationality Italian (Venetian) Creator Gender Male Date Created about 1738 Physical Dimensions w2045 x h1245 mm Type Paintings Rights Abbott Lawrence Fund, Seth K. Sweetser Fund, and Charles Edward French Fund. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved. Medium Oil on canvas By Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal)