CANALETTO (VENICE 1697-VENICE 1768)
The Canale di Santa Chiara looking North towards the Lagoon
c. 1722-3RCIN 401403
At its far north-west, the Grand Canal turns to pass the island of Santa Chiara – seen in the left distance – before opening on to the lagoon. On grounds of style, this must be the earliest of Smith’s Grand Canal views. The building second from the left was the house of the British Secretary-Resident, and the man standing at lower left, who from his dress cannot be Venetian, has been cautiously identified as a portrait of the Secretary. The vaporetto stop serving the Piazzale Roma car park now stands in the left foreground.