CANALETTO & THE ART OF VENICE THE QUEEN ’ S GALLERY , BUCKINGHAM PALACE
By Richard Fitzwilliams
CANALETTO & THE ART OF VENICE THE QUEEN ’ S GALLERY , BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Rosalba Carriera ,‘ Winter ’, c . 1726 . Royal Collection Trust /© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016
Canaletto , The Grand Canal looking East from Campo San Vio towards the Bacino , c . 1727-8 , from a set of 12 paintings of the Grand Canal . Royal Collection Trust /© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017
The work of the 18th Century Italian painter Giovanni Antonio Canal , better known as Canaletto , is forever associated with Venice as he painted glorious images of this incomparably beautiful city . The main attraction here is the scale of some of his canvasses in addition to his undoubted skill as a topographical artist in the era of The Grand Tour . There are several huge paintings where the glory of Venice and the majesty of Rome co-exist on a scale which does justice to both of these immortal cities .
On display are five huge canvasses which portray some of Rome ’ s most famous sights such as the Pantheon and two of the remaining arches in the Forum , that of Titus and of Septimus Severus . There are also several large works which depict some of Venice ’ s most alluring views featuring the Piazza San Marco and others depicting the breathtaking vistas of the Grand Canal . In scale these can also be compared to the two marvellous paintings of Venice by Francesco Guardi at Waddesdon Manor , which are his largest known works .
Canaletto was a master storyteller when it came to beautifying cities . He used artistic licence , eliminating buildings and manipulating views to suit his requirements . The effect is as spectacular as he intended . George III purchased over 200 of his works for the Royal Collection in 1762 .
Alongside the paintings , drawings and prints by Canaletto are works by his contemporaries including Francesco Zuccarelli and Pietro Longhi . The curators even discovered a good-luck token inside a pastel by the female artist Rosalba Carriera .
The fantastic scale of several of the works in this show make it essential viewing for the artist ’ s many admirers . It is yet another example of the superlative exhibitions which the Royal Collection regularly mounts .
Canaletto , The Pantheon , 1742 , part of a set of five Roman views . Royal Collection Trust /© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017
18 THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK