18th Century, San Marco Square

18th century

San Marco Square

Oil on canvas, 28 x 44.5 cm

With frame, cm 37 x 53.5

This work, dating back to the 18th century, is part of the successful tradition of Venetian vedutismo, a genre that, after reaching its peak in the 18th century with masters such as Canaletto and Guardi, continued to enjoy extraordinary popularity in the following century, fueled by the desire of Grand Tour travelers to carry with them a tangible memory of the "Serenissima".

The painting offers a view of the Piazzetta San Marco captured from a slightly raised point of view, allowing the viewer to embrace the symbols of Venetian power and history. On the left, the perspective is defined by the solid mass of the Sansoviniana Library, whose classical arches guide the eye towards the centre of the composition, where the imposing Bell Tower of San Marco stands out. In the foreground, stands the column with the Winged Lion, symbol of the evangelist and of the city itself. On the right, however, emerges the Gothic façade of the Ducal Palace, characterised by the typical pink wall facing and the openwork loggia, which leads to the Basilica of San Marco, only partially visible in the background. The artist chooses to populate the square with numerous figurines with a popular flavor, rendered with quick and lively touches of color. These characters, dressed in the fashion of the time or in costumes that recall eighteenth-century tradition, give the scene a sense of everyday life and lived life, transforming the architectural view into an urban tale. The atmospheric rendering is dominated by a clear and clear light, typical of a Venetian morning, which enhances the architectural volumes and creates sharp shadows on the pavement. The palette favors warm tones and ochre, harmonized by the blue of the sky dotted with white clouds. The state of conservation features a natural and widespread cretto, whose morphology constitutes a valuable chronological indicator for dating the work to the mid-eighteenth century.