Artwork
A Gondola on the Grand Canal, Venice
A Gondola on the Grand Canal, Venice is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist William Callow. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Gondola on the Grand Canal, Venice is a watercolor drawing by British artist William Callow, executed in 1866 on wove paper, later laid down. The work captures a serene moment on Venice's iconic waterway.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a single gondola navigating the Grand Canal beneath a clear, sunlit sky. The composition conveys a sense of tranquility and highlights the elegance of the gondola's form as it disturbs the water's surface.
Technique & Style
Callow combined watercolor with underlying graphite and accents of gouache. The preservation of the paper's original appearance, despite being over 150 years old, attests to the artist's skillful handling of materials.
Context
This work reflects Callow's recurring fascination with Venetian landscapes. For comparative views of Venice, similar watercolors by John Singer Sargent are housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
The Grand Canal in Venice
The Grand Canal, Venice, Looking Toward the Rialto
The Grand Canal in Venice with Palazzo Bembo
View of the Grand Canal, Venice. In the Background S. Maria della Salute
The Grand Canal, Venice (Gondola before San Giorgio)
View of the Grand Canal of Venice
Venice - the grand canal
Gondola Moorings on the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal in Venice with the Rialto Bridge