Veduta of Venice Molo – Canaletto School – Late 18th century

Oil on canvas. Late 18th century Venetian painter of the School of Giovanni Antonio Canal commonly known as Canaletto (Venice 1697 – Id. 1768).

This splendid veduta or view called ‘Il Molo’ (translation: jetty) is from a point at the heart of St. Mark’s Basin. It is one of the most replicated subjects by the Venetian master Antonio Canaletto. Before the eye of the viewer extends the most significant part of the Venetian Republic or La Serenissima, with its parade of prestigious palaces symbolising the central power of the city state.

From the left, the Palazzo della Zecca (once housed the official government mint), followed by the Librairia Marciana (a library now open to professionals from around the world accommodating almost a million books, 13,000 manuscripts and over 2,800 incunabula) dominated by the steeple, then the two columns of the Piazzetta with San Teodoro slaying a dragon (first patron saint of Venice under the Byzantine Empire overthrown by Saint Mark in the 9th century) and the famous Lion, the Clocktower and St Mark’s Basilica in the background, the Doge’s Palace (the residence of the Doge and seat of power of the Venetian Republic) and the Prisons.
The first version of this veduta is the famous painting "The Return of the Bucentaur from San Nicolò di Lido on Ascension Day" one of a series of fourteen views commissioned by Joseph Smith and completed in 1734. It is now in Windsor Palace.

While paying tribute to the Venetian master, our artist displays his own inspired workmanship. Self-assured, he seeks to break free from the constraints of the architecture. Oil-based and using a decidedly warm palette, his work reveals the full glory of La Serenissima in the summer sunshine.

Sold with two certificates of authenticity.

Dimensions: 52 x 83 cm unframed image – 69 x 100 cm including frame

The work is presented in a genuine 18th century Venetian frame known as a Canaletto frame.