The Doge's Palace and the Grand Canal, Venice

Dateca. 1710

Maker Luca Carlevariis Italian, Venice, 1663-1729

Label TextIn the 18th century, scores of northern Europeans traveled to Italy to experience viewing historical treasures dating back to the classical period. This journey—known as the Grand Tour—became an essential part of the education of young aristocrats. Italian artists made view paintings (vedute) of the Italian scene, such as this lively depiction of Venice’s wharf on the Grand Canal, as souvenirs for English travelers to take home. Carlevariis was one of the earliest practitioners of this form. Here he includes the familiar buildings that still greet tourists at the entrance to the Grand Canal, but he is equally fascinated by the cross-section of individuals that congregated in the city when it was a center of global trade.

In the 18th century, scores of northern Europeans traveled to Italy to experience viewing historical treasures dating back to the classical period. This journey—known as the Grand Tour—became an essential part of the education of young aristocrats. Italian artists made view paintings (vedute) of the Italian scene, such as this lively depiction of Venice’s wharf on the Grand Canal, as souvenirs for English travelers to take home.

Carlevariis was one of the earliest practitioners of this form. Here he includes the familiar buildings that still greet tourists at the entrance to the Grand Canal, but he is equally fascinated by the cross-section of individuals that congregated in the city when it was a center of global trade.

Object number50.70

ProvenanceMr. Crowe, England, from ca. 1710; Squire of Stoke Rockford, C. Turner, dates unknown; [Christie's London, 22 February, 1924, cat. no. 78]; Sir Harold Sidney Harmsworth P.C., Lord Rothermere (1868-1940), England; to his son Esmond Cecil Harmsworth, Lord Rothermere (1898-1978), England; [David M. Koetser Gallery, New York and London, to 1950]; purchased by Seattle Art Museum (funds from Floyd A. Naramore), May 1, 1950

Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia

Exhibition HistoryChicago, Illinois, The Art Institute of Chicago "Painting in Italy in the Eighteenth Century" 1970 Circuit: Minneapolis Institute of Arts 1970-71; Toledo Museum of Art 1971 Seattle, Washington, Henry Art Gallery, "XVIII Century Venetian Drawings: Drawings from American Academic Collections, Paintings from the Seattle Art Museum," September 22, 1974 - October 20, 1974 (9/22/1974 - 10/20/1974) Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Renaissance & Baroque Art," February 8, 1950 - March 5, 1950 (2/8/1950 - 3/5/1950) Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Art Gallery, "Old Masters: Baroque Paintings," April 16, 1952 - May 4, 1952 (4/16/1952 - 5/4/1952)Published ReferencesSeattle Art Museum. Renaissance & Baroque Art. Exhibition Catalogue. Seattle, Washington: Seattle Art Museum, 1950. Rizzi, Aldo. Disegni incisioni e bozzetti del Carlevariis. Exhibition Catalogue, Udine, Italy, 1963, pl. XXXI Rizzi, Aldo. Luca Carlevariis. Venice: Alfieri, 1967, 94, pl. IX, fig. 140 Flannegan, Barry. Painting in Italy in the Eighteenth Century: Rococo to Romanticism. Exhibit Catalog, Chicago Art Institute. Chicago, Illinois, 1970, p. 58-60, fig. 18 Henry Art Gallery. XVIII Century Venice: Drawings from American Academic Collections, Paintings from the Seattle Art Museum. Exhibition Catalogue, Henry Art Gallery. Seattle, Washington, 1974, 5, 7 Bory, Jean-Francois. L'Ecole Venitienne. Editions Ides et Calendes: Neuchatel, Switzerland, 1988 "Selected Works." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1991, p. 95 Ishikawa, Chiyo. "Seattle Art Museum." In Italian Treasures in the U.S.: An Itinerary of Art. Edited by Renato Miracco. Rome: Gangemi Editore International Publishing, 2015, p. 200, reproduced p. 203.

Credit LineGift of Floyd A. Naramore

Dimensions37 3/4 x 75 3/4 in. (95.9 x 192.4 cm)

MediumOil on canvas