Artwork
Imaginary View of S. Giacomo di Rialto [upper right]
![Imaginary View of S. Giacomo di Rialto [upper right], by Canaletto, ink, 1740](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/canaletto--imaginary-view-of-s-giacomo-di-rialto-upper-right--fbcdbcf32cc02bea-w1024.webp)
Imaginary View of S. Giacomo di Rialto [upper right] is an ink print by the Baroque artist Canaletto. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This etching on laid paper, created around 1740, is a representation of a Venetian cityscape by Canaletto, a prominent artist of the 18th-century Venetian school.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a fictional city scene with a central clock tower, ornate buildings, and everyday life. The label 'imaginary view' indicates that the scene is not a direct representation of a real location, but rather a composite or invented cityscape.
Technique & Style
Canaletto employed fine lines in the etching to achieve a sense of depth, rendering the architecture three-dimensional. The work blends real and imagined elements, characteristic of his capricci and vedute.
History & Provenance
The artist, Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, produced this etching as part of his broader oeuvre, which included both paintings and prints, often combining actual and fanciful architectural details.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Antonio Canal (18 October 1697 – 19 April 1768), commonly known as Canaletto (Italian: ), was an Italian painter from the Republic of Venice, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
