Canaletto - Ascension Day Festival at Venice

Джанни Антонио Канал (18 октября 1697 - 19 апреля 1768), более известный как Каналетто, был итальянским живописцем городских видов Венице. Он также рисовал воображаемые виды, хотя иногда трудно сказать, изображает ли его работа реальный вид или воображаемый. Он также был полиграфистом, используя технику офорта. В период с 1746 по 1756 год он был очень успешным в Англии, где он создал много видов Лондона. Британский купец Джозеф Смит собрал большую коллекцию Каналетто, которая была продана королю Георгу III в 1762 году.

Венеция в период расцвета своего могущества.

Giovanni Antonio Canal, better known as Canaletto, was a Venetian painter who specialised in vedute, or cityscapes. He is considered one of the greatest painters of the 18th century and is particularly famous for his depictions of Venice, which he captured with remarkable accuracy and detail. Canaletto was born into a family of painters and was trained by his father, Bernardo Canal. He began his career as a painter of theatrical scenes before turning to veduta. His early work was influenced by the Dutch painter Gerrit Berckheyde, but he later developed his own distinctive style. Canaletto's paintings are characterised by precise architectural detail, luminous skies and vibrant colours. He often painted the same views repeatedly, capturing different times of day and seasons. His work was highly sought after by wealthy collectors and he received commissions from prominent figures such as King George III of England. Despite his success, Canaletto experienced financial difficulties in the latter part of his career and was forced to sell many of his paintings at low prices. He eventually moved to England, where he continued to paint vedute of London and other English cities. Today, Canaletto's paintings are highly regarded and can be found in major museums around the world, including the National Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.