Artwork

Views of Venice: The Bridge and Market of Rialto

Views of Venice:  The Bridge and Market of Rialto, by Michele Marieschi, 1741
Views of Venice:  The Bridge and Market of Rialto, by Michele Marieschi, 1741

Views of Venice: The Bridge and Market of Rialto is a print by the Baroque artist Michele Marieschi. It dates from 1741 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

This painting shows Venice’s famous Rialto Bridge over a busy canal. Boats fill the water. Shops line the bridge. People walk above and below.

Marieschi used light and shadow to make the scene feel real. His brushwork is sharp. The buildings look almost three-dimensional.

The bridge in this painting looks just like the one you can still see today. Look up Michele Marieschi (Italian, 1710–1743).

Overview

Michele Marieschi's *Views of Venice: The Bridge and Market of Rialto* (1741) is a characteristic example of the vedute genre, depicting a detailed and atmospheric cityscape of Venice.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on the iconic Rialto Bridge, capturing the bustling activity of the market and canal below, with an emphasis on everyday urban life amidst notable architecture.

Technique & Style

Marieschi's technique combines sharp brushwork with effective use of light and shadow, achieving a sense of realism and almost three-dimensional depth in the architectural elements.

History & Provenance

Created in 1741 by the Italian painter and engraver Michele Marieschi, the work is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Context

Reflecting Marieschi's background in stage design, the composition balances structural precision with lively, dynamic elements, characteristic of 18th-century Venetian vedute.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Michele Marieschi

Artist

Michele Marieschi

Michele Marieschi or Michele Giovanni Marieschi, also Michiel (1710 - 18 January 1744), was an Italian painter and engraver.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.