What does this painting show?

The painting depicts Venice's Grand Canal near Santa Maria della Carità, a church and monastery complex that now houses the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice's most important art museum with works by Bellini, Titian, and Veronese.

Canaletto (1697-1768) was Venice's master view painter. His precise architectural vedute were prized souvenirs for Grand Tour travelers, especially British collectors who purchased his work extensively.

Where can I see Canaletto paintings?

This painting is in a private collection. Major Canaletto holdings are at the National Gallery London, the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, and Venice's own galleries.

Where Is The Grand Canal near San Maria della Carità?

Canaletto captured this sparkling view of Venice's Grand Canal near the church and monastery of Santa Maria della Carità, now home to the Gallerie dell'Accademia. Gondolas and trading vessels populate the busy waterway while elegant Renaissance palaces line both banks beneath an expansive sky. The artist's precise architectural rendering and luminous atmospheric effects made such views highly popular with Grand Tour visitors.

Working primarily for English aristocrats visiting Venice, Canaletto developed a successful formula combining topographical accuracy with atmospheric beauty and charm. His views often used a camera obscura to achieve correct perspective, then were enlivened with carefully observed figures and cloud effects. The painting shows the Grand Canal at its most characteristic, with blue water reflecting Venetian light. It exemplifies the Rococo taste for decorative views of famous cities.