Description
Canaletto Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768)**, known as Canaletto, is one of the most popular old master painters. His views of Venice and London are widely celebrated and admired. First published in 1982, this revised book traces Canaletto’s career from his beginnings as a scene-painter with his father to the work of his later years.
Canaletto was not merely a recorder of the amazing scenery of Venice or Georgian England; he was interested in depicting the world around him. Unlike most of his fellow artists, he possessed the power, in the words of one of his contemporaries, to paint “so that the eye is deceived and truly believes it is the real thing it sees.” His insight and technical skills were so dazzling that some speculated he must rely on some sort of optical apparatus.
His first views of Venice, painted around 1725 for Stefano Conti of Lucca, marked the beginning of his remarkable career. Soon after, he came into contact with Joseph Smith, the British Consul in Venice, who became his most important patron. Between about 1746 and 1756, influenced by Smith, Canaletto traveled to England. During this time, he painted many London scenes, including views of Westminster Bridge, Whitehall, the Old Horse Guards, St James’s Park, Somerset House, as well as views of Warwick Castle and Eton College.
This revised edition includes a much-expanded range of color illustrations showcasing many of Canaletto’s best paintings and watercolors, allowing readers to appreciate the depth and variety of his work.
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