Artwork
A Cloudy Day in Venice
A Cloudy Day in Venice is a print by the Impressionist artist Samuel Colman. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1881, *A Cloudy Day in Venice* is a print by American artist Samuel Colman. The image portrays a tranquil Venetian canal under an overcast sky, populated with a variety of vessels and lined with characteristic architecture. The work belongs to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a quiet waterway where tall, sail‑filled ships dominate the left margin and a lone gondola drifts toward the right. Along the banks, buildings feature arched windows and domed roofs, evoking the city’s historic skyline. The muted, swirling sky and rippling reflections suggest a momentary study of atmospheric conditions and everyday canal life.
Technique & Style
Colman employed a sketch‑like approach, rendering forms with loose lines and softened edges to convey movement and light. The print’s slightly blurred quality reflects a practice common among artists who produced rapid studies, emphasizing the fleeting interplay of water, sky, and architecture rather than precise detail.
History & Provenance
Samuel Colman (1832–1920) was primarily known for landscape paintings of the Hudson River, but he also worked as an interior designer and writer. This Venetian scene, produced later in his career, entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Colman (March 4, 1832 – March 26, 1920) was an American painter, interior designer, and writer, probably best remembered for his paintings of the Hudson River.
