The war of succession of Austria had a direct impact on the artistic activity in Venice. The British aristocrats suspended their Italian tours. In 1746 Canaletto moved to London.
The precocious skills of his nephew Bernardo Bellotto were already internationally recognized. In 1747 the Elector of Saxony Friedrich August II invited him to paint the monumental views of Dresden. Using in his turn the pseudonym Canaletto, Bernardo will stay there until 1758.
Dresden was a modern capital. The monuments that lined the Elbe were erected in the previous twenty years and some of them were not yet completed. The achievement of the artist met the expectations of the Elector.
Bernardo made rare copies of his paintings for the attention or on commission of the court dignitaries. On July 9 in London, Christie's sells a view of Dresden from the right bank of the Elbe, lot 48 estimated £ 8M.
Painted between 1751 and 1753 from an original 132 x 246 cm made as early as 1747, this oil on canvas 96 x 165 cm takes benefit from Bernardo's usual practice for a gradual improvement of his images, including not only the most recent modifications of the buildings but also a nice animation and pretty reflections in the river.
The precocious skills of his nephew Bernardo Bellotto were already internationally recognized. In 1747 the Elector of Saxony Friedrich August II invited him to paint the monumental views of Dresden. Using in his turn the pseudonym Canaletto, Bernardo will stay there until 1758.
Dresden was a modern capital. The monuments that lined the Elbe were erected in the previous twenty years and some of them were not yet completed. The achievement of the artist met the expectations of the Elector.
Bernardo made rare copies of his paintings for the attention or on commission of the court dignitaries. On July 9 in London, Christie's sells a view of Dresden from the right bank of the Elbe, lot 48 estimated £ 8M.
Painted between 1751 and 1753 from an original 132 x 246 cm made as early as 1747, this oil on canvas 96 x 165 cm takes benefit from Bernardo's usual practice for a gradual improvement of his images, including not only the most recent modifications of the buildings but also a nice animation and pretty reflections in the river.
A closer look at Bellotto’s Dresden, from our July 9 Old Masters sale: http://t.co/QZOYIYINcC pic.twitter.com/uyi6NPjTLC
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) July 1, 2015
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