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EXHIBITION

Canaletto and the Art of Venice

Details of gondola on a Venice canal
This exhibition is in the past. View our current exhibitions.

Explore the exhibition

      • This event is in the past
        Daily (Friday 19 May 2017 - Sunday 12 Nov 2017)

      The Royal Collection contains the world's finest group of paintings, drawings and prints by Venice's most famous view-painter, Canaletto (1697-1768). These works were bought by the young George III in 1762 from Canaletto's agent and dealer Joseph Smith, British Consul in Venice, along with the rest of Smith's huge collection.

      The exhibition presents a spectacular selection of eighteenth-century Venetian art, with Canaletto's greatest works shown alongside paintings and works on paper by Sebastiano and Marco Ricci, Francesco Zuccarelli, Rosalba Carriera, Pietro Longhi and Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. The exhibition explores the many delights of eighteenth-century Venice, from the splendours of the Grand Canal and St Mark's Square to its festivals, theatre and masked carnival, bringing the irresistible allure of the most beautiful city in the world to The Queen's Gallery.

      This film introduces Canaletto and Consul Smith, and some of the themes of the exhibition.

      Highlight objects

        EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION

        Explore the exhibition

        A drawing of the Libreria and the Molo in Venice. The Molo is the broad stone quay in front of the Palazzo Ducale and Libreria. The Libreria dominates the composition, but the two columns of San Teodoro and San Marco are depicted in front of the building.
        Canaletto in Venice
        A pen and ink drawing of two opera singers in costume: full-length figures turned in profile to the left; a male singer in Oriental costume imploring a female singer, who faces away. Dated at the upper right corner, 1728. The singers in thi
        Opera and Theatre
        A pen and ink drawing of a rock-arch over a stream, with fishermen climbing rocks on the right, towards two women who look down on them. This drawing is probably directly preparatory for one of Marco Ricci's etchings, as the careful handlin
        Landscape drawing
        An etching of the landing place for boats at Mestre on the Venetian mainland. The building on the left in the foreground has Canaletto's chevron coat-of-arms. The area around the canal is filled with many figures and a wagon. Second state, Bromb
        Printmaking in Venice
        A print by Cattini reproducing a drawing of a young huntsman and two young women holding a caged bird by Piazzetta in the Royal Collection (see RCIN 991252). Lettered within a printed border with the names of the artists and a dedication to Pros
        Chiaroscuro woodcuts
        A drawing of a view in Piazza San Marco in Venice. On the left is part of the Procuratie Vecchie, and the Torre dell'Orologio - a large clock tower containing an astrological clock. On the right is part of the Basilica di San Marco. Many figures are depic
        The capriccio
        Both this painting and RCIN 405078 show a great debt to Marco Ricci's capricci, both in oil and in tempera on leather, which Canaletto would have been able to study in Consul Joseph Smith's collection. The compositions, with large ruined arch or arches in
        Artists in Venice
        This view is from the west end of the nave up to the high altar of San Marco, with the dome of the Pentecost overhead and the dome of the Ascension beyond, partially obscured by the banner. The lives of the Apostles, with the Crucifixion of St Andrew clea
        Canaletto's Paintings
        This is one of a series of twelve views by Canaletto of the Grand Canal which are all the same format. The pictures form the basis of the fourteen engraved plates in Visentini's <em>Prospectus Magni Canalis Venetiarum</em> (Venice, 1735), thus providing a
        The Grand Canal series
        This painting is one of a unique group of five large upright views of Rome, depicting the major sights of the ancient city (RCIN 401002, RCIN 400700, RCIN 400713, RCIN 400524, RCIN 400714). Unusually for Canaletto, all the works are signed and dated promi
        Canaletto's Roman Views
        A full-bound brown sheepskin volume with gold tooling and the crest of Joseph Smith on the front. Inside, marbled endpapers and a watercolour frontispiece by Antonio Visentini of Smith's coat of arms, and a portrait print of Visentini. The volume contains
        Joseph Smith and the Pasquali press
        B(M) 517. Architectural elevation of an exterior in classical style: portico-front with double pediments, supported by columns and pilasters, Composite capitals. Below, plan of the front.
        Book illustration in Venice

        Schools sessions

        Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4, key stage 5
        A Grand Tour of Venice - A Creative Writing workshop

        The many possibilities for inspiring Creative Writing from works of art, compared to more familiar sources such as books and the internet

        Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4
        How do you create a Landscape?

        Examine the techniques and skills used by Canaletto and other artists featured in Canaletto & the Art of Venice to produce these fine examples of landscapes

        Key stage 1
        On a Grand Tour - a drama workshop

        In this exciting drama session children plan an imaginary trip to Venice to choose a painting for The Queen

        Related content

        Cover for Canaletto
        Publication
        Canaletto and the Art of Venice

        The rich eighteenth century Venetian art in the Royal Collection

        Infrared image of Canaletto drawing
        New insight into Canaletto's working technique
        Screenshot of the page of website for the Exhibition on Screen showing of Canaletto
        Canaletto & the Art of Venice in cinemas
        Quick Links
        Official Royal Residences

        The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.