Venice
See also : 18th century painting Italy II Cities Modern Italian art UK II George IV to Victoria Turner
Chronology : 18th century 1730-1739 1750-1759 1760-1769 1780-1789 1840-1849 1908
Chronology : 18th century 1730-1739 1750-1759 1760-1769 1780-1789 1840-1849 1908
1733 The Grand Canal in Venice by Canaletto
2005 SOLD 18.6 M£ including premium by Sotheby's
Link to catalogue.
1730s Everyday Life in front of the Molo
2013 SOLD 8.5 M£ including premium
For three centuries, tourists are captivated by the view of Venice from San Marco basin. The concentration of monuments is unique, and they are magnificent.
Carlevarijs transfered to Venice the tradition of the paintings of views already appreciated in Rome by the English tourists. In Venice, the Molo is logically their favorite subject.
Canaletto learned his craft from Carlevarijs. He added very realistic details of monuments with high care brought to the relative position of the buildings and the beauty of light.
Tourists love monuments but also festivals, and precisely the feast of the Bucentaur happens on the sea. In the 1730s, the large format compositions of Bucentaur Day when the basin is covered with boats and gondolas are the masterpieces by Canaletto.
They are supplemented by smaller formats for ordinary days, where the animation is almost similar but more laborious than contemplative. An oil on canvas of this period in middle size format, 69 x 113 cm, is estimated £ 4M, for sale by Christie's in London on July 2.
This view is even a rare opportunity within this theme for showing an anecdotal detail. In the foreground, a boatman makes a desperate attempt to avoid a collision with another boat. Traffic accidents are not exclusive to our automotive civilization!
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good subject, reasonably large and great period for this artist : this interesting Canaletto was sold for £ 8.5 million including premium.
Carlevarijs transfered to Venice the tradition of the paintings of views already appreciated in Rome by the English tourists. In Venice, the Molo is logically their favorite subject.
Canaletto learned his craft from Carlevarijs. He added very realistic details of monuments with high care brought to the relative position of the buildings and the beauty of light.
Tourists love monuments but also festivals, and precisely the feast of the Bucentaur happens on the sea. In the 1730s, the large format compositions of Bucentaur Day when the basin is covered with boats and gondolas are the masterpieces by Canaletto.
They are supplemented by smaller formats for ordinary days, where the animation is almost similar but more laborious than contemplative. An oil on canvas of this period in middle size format, 69 x 113 cm, is estimated £ 4M, for sale by Christie's in London on July 2.
This view is even a rare opportunity within this theme for showing an anecdotal detail. In the foreground, a boatman makes a desperate attempt to avoid a collision with another boat. Traffic accidents are not exclusive to our automotive civilization!
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good subject, reasonably large and great period for this artist : this interesting Canaletto was sold for £ 8.5 million including premium.
1738-1739 Views and Figures of Venice
2013 SOLD 9.6 M£ including premium
With the orders carried out successively for the Dukes of Bedford and Marlborough, respectively 24 and 20 oil paintings, Canaletto enjoyed the consecration of his art.
In the late 1730s, his best works are altogether the most realistic topographic views of the monuments of Venice, a sunny atmosphere that appeals to tourists and the summary of all aspects of everyday life in the city. The great skill of this artist is to provide a perfect balance between all these topics.
A pair of canvas painted in 1738 or 1739 in his most usual format, 47 x 77 cm, displays on one of them the Piazza San Marco and for the other the Canal Grande to the Rialto. These two focal points of the Venetian activity are the best excuse to offer a picturesque scenery with unlimited entertainment.
The first customer of this pair has not been identified. The fact that they deal with the two most classic Venetian views may suggest that they were not extracted from a larger set. Their condition is pristine. This lot is estimated £ 8M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on December 4.
This period marks the greater maturity of the art of Canaletto when he teaches his craft to a gifted apprentice, his young nephew Bernardo Bellotto, causing a healthy rivalry between the two artists.
POST SALE COMMENT
This pair of views of Venice painted in one of the best periods of Canaletto was sold for £ 9.6 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's, showing many details of these exceptional scenes :
In the late 1730s, his best works are altogether the most realistic topographic views of the monuments of Venice, a sunny atmosphere that appeals to tourists and the summary of all aspects of everyday life in the city. The great skill of this artist is to provide a perfect balance between all these topics.
A pair of canvas painted in 1738 or 1739 in his most usual format, 47 x 77 cm, displays on one of them the Piazza San Marco and for the other the Canal Grande to the Rialto. These two focal points of the Venetian activity are the best excuse to offer a picturesque scenery with unlimited entertainment.
The first customer of this pair has not been identified. The fact that they deal with the two most classic Venetian views may suggest that they were not extracted from a larger set. Their condition is pristine. This lot is estimated £ 8M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on December 4.
This period marks the greater maturity of the art of Canaletto when he teaches his craft to a gifted apprentice, his young nephew Bernardo Bellotto, causing a healthy rivalry between the two artists.
POST SALE COMMENT
This pair of views of Venice painted in one of the best periods of Canaletto was sold for £ 9.6 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's, showing many details of these exceptional scenes :
1754 Bucintoro on Ascension Day by Canaletto
2005 SOLD for £ 11.4M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1768 A Venitian Masterpiece by Francesco Guardi
2011 SOLD 26.7 M£ including premium
The wealthy English tourists enabled the development of vedute, these realistic paintings of urban scenes of Rome and Venice.
In Venice indeed, in the late 1760s, the uncontested master of the genre, Canaletto, is aging. He died in 1768.
It is certainly no coincidence that the most achieved works of Francesco Guardi date from the same period: Canaletto's position on the market was to be taken.
In this time of greater maturity, Guardi executed very few large paintings. The view from the Rialto Bridge, an oil on canvas 120 x 204 cm, for sale by Sotheby's in London on July 6, is exceptional. It is estimated £ 15M.
As ever, the architectures are much detailed. The dense and gentle animation is typical of Guardi, but the cloudy atmosphere and contrasting sunlight are worthy of Canaletto. This work was sold in 1768 : to an Englishman, of course.
It is shown in the press release shared by Artdaily.
POST SALE COMMENT
This exceptional painting was sold £ 26.7 million including premium, in the upper range of the estimates that had been ambitious yet.
In Venice indeed, in the late 1760s, the uncontested master of the genre, Canaletto, is aging. He died in 1768.
It is certainly no coincidence that the most achieved works of Francesco Guardi date from the same period: Canaletto's position on the market was to be taken.
In this time of greater maturity, Guardi executed very few large paintings. The view from the Rialto Bridge, an oil on canvas 120 x 204 cm, for sale by Sotheby's in London on July 6, is exceptional. It is estimated £ 15M.
As ever, the architectures are much detailed. The dense and gentle animation is typical of Guardi, but the cloudy atmosphere and contrasting sunlight are worthy of Canaletto. This work was sold in 1768 : to an Englishman, of course.
It is shown in the press release shared by Artdaily.
POST SALE COMMENT
This exceptional painting was sold £ 26.7 million including premium, in the upper range of the estimates that had been ambitious yet.
1768 From Both Sides of the Rialto
2017 SOLD for £ 26M including premium
A pair of oils on canvases is unique in the history of the vedutas by the conjunction of their monumental dimension, 120 x 204 cm each, with the maturity of one of the greatest artists of Venice, Francesco Guardi. The canvases are wider than the looms in use at that time and a nearly invisible join had been needed in the lower part of the image.
They show the commercial district of Venice, the Rialto, on the Grand Canal on both sides of its spectacular single arched covered bridge which housed shops. Through his picturesque animation and his luminosity, Guardi appears as a worthy continuator of Canaletto.
The sequence of monuments is correct but these panoramas are too wide to respect a unique perspective. The large format brings an abundance of details and an exceptional vision of the Venetian atmosphere.
Guardi worked from the collection of his autograph drawings and the modifications made to the monuments do not allow to date his paintings with accuracy. We will consider 1768 for this pair for two reasons. The death of Canaletto in April certainly generate great ambitions to Guardi suddenly becoming the best supplier of the tourists. The first owner was a young British aristocrat who had his tour in 1768, arriving in August in Venice.
The pair was separated in 2011. The view taken northward was sold by Sotheby's for £ 26.7M including premium on July 6, 2011. The view in the reverse direction is for sale on July 6, 2017 in London by Christie's, lot 25. The press release of 5 April announces that it is expected to exceed £ 25M. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
They show the commercial district of Venice, the Rialto, on the Grand Canal on both sides of its spectacular single arched covered bridge which housed shops. Through his picturesque animation and his luminosity, Guardi appears as a worthy continuator of Canaletto.
The sequence of monuments is correct but these panoramas are too wide to respect a unique perspective. The large format brings an abundance of details and an exceptional vision of the Venetian atmosphere.
Guardi worked from the collection of his autograph drawings and the modifications made to the monuments do not allow to date his paintings with accuracy. We will consider 1768 for this pair for two reasons. The death of Canaletto in April certainly generate great ambitions to Guardi suddenly becoming the best supplier of the tourists. The first owner was a young British aristocrat who had his tour in 1768, arriving in August in Venice.
The pair was separated in 2011. The view taken northward was sold by Sotheby's for £ 26.7M including premium on July 6, 2011. The view in the reverse direction is for sale on July 6, 2017 in London by Christie's, lot 25. The press release of 5 April announces that it is expected to exceed £ 25M. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Une toile monumentale (122x200cm) de Francesco Guardi fait partie de la vente Old Master à Londres le 6/07 https://t.co/99ODYfvEzn pic.twitter.com/hHqqm8dzHo
— Christie's Paris (@christiesparis) June 12, 2017
1782 Venetian Impressions
2014 SOLD 9.9 M£ including premium
Pupil and imitator of Canaletto, Francesco Guardi appears on the vedutist market during the last decade of his master. He innovates with very large formats.
Canaletto dies in 1768. Guardi's art gets more freedom. He now waives the strict topographic truth while maintaining an extreme detail in the monuments and an intense and picturesque animation.
Around 1780 Guardi loves to show Venice in its greatest splendor when the bright sun of late morning reveals all the warm shades of the color of the stone. The term 'Impressionism' sometimes used to describe the style of his later period is not a reference to the future French school but to his desire to restore the atmosphere of the place, anticipating the art of Constable.
The view of Venice for sale by Christie's in London on July 8 has all these qualities. The magnificent panorama from the Bacino di San Marco includes the Piazzetta and is centered on the Doge's Palace. This oil on canvas 70 x 102 cm is estimated £ 8M.
The paintings by Canaletto and Guardi are not dated, but fortunately for the chronologist the grand tours of their wealthy English clients provide some accurate information. This one was purchased between 1782 and 1784 by the 5th Earl of Shaftesbury.
POST SALE COMMENT
This view of Venice from one of the best periods of Francesco Guardi was sold for £ 9.9 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's, including an interesting comparison in the treatment of the surface of water between this painting and a view of Venice by Monet.
Canaletto dies in 1768. Guardi's art gets more freedom. He now waives the strict topographic truth while maintaining an extreme detail in the monuments and an intense and picturesque animation.
Around 1780 Guardi loves to show Venice in its greatest splendor when the bright sun of late morning reveals all the warm shades of the color of the stone. The term 'Impressionism' sometimes used to describe the style of his later period is not a reference to the future French school but to his desire to restore the atmosphere of the place, anticipating the art of Constable.
The view of Venice for sale by Christie's in London on July 8 has all these qualities. The magnificent panorama from the Bacino di San Marco includes the Piazzetta and is centered on the Doge's Palace. This oil on canvas 70 x 102 cm is estimated £ 8M.
The paintings by Canaletto and Guardi are not dated, but fortunately for the chronologist the grand tours of their wealthy English clients provide some accurate information. This one was purchased between 1782 and 1784 by the 5th Earl of Shaftesbury.
POST SALE COMMENT
This view of Venice from one of the best periods of Francesco Guardi was sold for £ 9.9 million including premium.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's, including an interesting comparison in the treatment of the surface of water between this painting and a view of Venice by Monet.
1841 View of Venice by Turner
2006 SOLD for $ 36M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1908 Haze over the Grand Canal
2015 SOLD for £ 23.7M including premium
Claude Monet stays in Venice from October 1 to December 7, 1908. At first reluctant to interrupt his studies of nymphéas, he immerses himself into the atmosphere of the city.
His view of the Palazzo Contarini, sold for £ 19,7M including premium by Sotheby's on June 19, 2013, is undoubtedly one of the earliest works of this session. The old stone of the monument and the reflections in the lapping water offer a subtle symphony of colors.
Venice succeeded in seducing Monet. Before the end of the first month, he starts one of these series of paintings that are his passion and the culmination of his art, following the cathedrals of Rouen, the haystacks and, more recently, Waterloo bridge.
In his previous series, Monet interpreted the light in various times of the day. Venice is the most subtle of his themes because the artist appreciates that the city offers every day a different harmony. He executes six times in the same format the same view of the Grand Canal in the direction of Santa Maria della Salute.
The real theme of this series is the light of Venice sifted through the haze. The famous dome and an almost imperceptible gondola confirm that such an atmosphere can only occur in Venice. Monet managed the tour de force to bring a new style in the immeasurable iconography of the city of the Doges.
One of the six views, oil on canvas 73 x 92 cm, is estimated £ 20M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on February 3, lot 15.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
His view of the Palazzo Contarini, sold for £ 19,7M including premium by Sotheby's on June 19, 2013, is undoubtedly one of the earliest works of this session. The old stone of the monument and the reflections in the lapping water offer a subtle symphony of colors.
Venice succeeded in seducing Monet. Before the end of the first month, he starts one of these series of paintings that are his passion and the culmination of his art, following the cathedrals of Rouen, the haystacks and, more recently, Waterloo bridge.
In his previous series, Monet interpreted the light in various times of the day. Venice is the most subtle of his themes because the artist appreciates that the city offers every day a different harmony. He executes six times in the same format the same view of the Grand Canal in the direction of Santa Maria della Salute.
The real theme of this series is the light of Venice sifted through the haze. The famous dome and an almost imperceptible gondola confirm that such an atmosphere can only occur in Venice. Monet managed the tour de force to bring a new style in the immeasurable iconography of the city of the Doges.
One of the six views, oil on canvas 73 x 92 cm, is estimated £ 20M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on February 3, lot 15.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
1908 Stone and Water
2013 SOLD 19.7 M£ including premium
In 1908, Monet does not enjoy traveling any more. He wants to devote as much as possible to the ever changing expression of his pool at Giverny. However, a wealthy American woman who was a friend of Sargent manages to invite him to Venice.
Monet was a painter of nature and water. He must completely soak in the atmosphere of a place for performing his art. The old palaces of Venice are a symbiosis of stone and water. After a week of reluctance, the artist is finally charmed and begins to work.
On June 19 in London, Sotheby's sells a view of the Palazzo Contarini. This palace is very close to the residence of his American hostess where Monet is housed at the beginning of his stay, and this oil on canvas 73 x 92 cm certainly expresses his first favorable impressions of Venice.
Monet is not a tourist. The palace is shown in front view and the horizon is reduced to almost nothing. The color shades of the old walls and of their reflections in the waters of the canal are sumptuous. The vibrant impressionist style offers a symphony of rare colors in a single density: amethyst, lilac, cobalt blue.
This painting is estimated £ 15M. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
As Sotheby's rightly announced it, this painting demonstrates the importance of the series of views of Venice by Monet. It was sold for £ 19.7 million including premium.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Sotheby's :
Monet was a painter of nature and water. He must completely soak in the atmosphere of a place for performing his art. The old palaces of Venice are a symbiosis of stone and water. After a week of reluctance, the artist is finally charmed and begins to work.
On June 19 in London, Sotheby's sells a view of the Palazzo Contarini. This palace is very close to the residence of his American hostess where Monet is housed at the beginning of his stay, and this oil on canvas 73 x 92 cm certainly expresses his first favorable impressions of Venice.
Monet is not a tourist. The palace is shown in front view and the horizon is reduced to almost nothing. The color shades of the old walls and of their reflections in the waters of the canal are sumptuous. The vibrant impressionist style offers a symphony of rare colors in a single density: amethyst, lilac, cobalt blue.
This painting is estimated £ 15M. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
As Sotheby's rightly announced it, this painting demonstrates the importance of the series of views of Venice by Monet. It was sold for £ 19.7 million including premium.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Sotheby's :
1908 The Incomparable Light of Venice
2015 SOLD for $ 23M including premium
Claude Monet had not imagined the beauty of light on the Canal Grande, particularly admirable when a strong sun is piercing a thick salt mist. Arriving in Venice in early October 1908, he was first intimidated by that new challenge before executing his personal method of observation at different times of the day.
Monet also admires the monuments but he does not feel like a tourist. His view of the Palazzo Ducale taken from north through the Canal Grande is commonplace, with its classic far row of monuments. Yet it is one of the finest achievements from his Venetian stay.
The monuments gilded by the sun are treated with an exact proportion and a great attention to detail with an impressionistic touch that hosts a great range of colors. The meeting of this palette with water brings an even greater variety in the beautiful and sweet shimmering of the reflections.
The surface of water becomes concrete, like on the lily pond but without the use of floating objects. In the distance, a single small gondola provides a contrast at a strong point of the composition.
This oil on canvas 57 x 92 cm is estimated $ 15M for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 5, lot 40.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's, reminding the former belonging of the painting to the Goldschmidt collection:
Monet also admires the monuments but he does not feel like a tourist. His view of the Palazzo Ducale taken from north through the Canal Grande is commonplace, with its classic far row of monuments. Yet it is one of the finest achievements from his Venetian stay.
The monuments gilded by the sun are treated with an exact proportion and a great attention to detail with an impressionistic touch that hosts a great range of colors. The meeting of this palette with water brings an even greater variety in the beautiful and sweet shimmering of the reflections.
The surface of water becomes concrete, like on the lily pond but without the use of floating objects. In the distance, a single small gondola provides a contrast at a strong point of the composition.
This oil on canvas 57 x 92 cm is estimated $ 15M for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 5, lot 40.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's, reminding the former belonging of the painting to the Goldschmidt collection:
#AuctionUpdate: Restituted to the family of Anthony Goldschmidt in 1960, Monet's ‘Le Palais Ducal’ brings $23.1m pic.twitter.com/eIsBL75QAj
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) May 6, 20151908 Impressionism on Venice
2016 SOLD for £ 11.6M including premium
From 1890, the art of Claude Monet consists of series that were later scattered. Early in this phase, with the Meules and the Cathédrales de Rouen, contrasts are high between the images taken throughout the day. In London and afterward in Venice, and of course with the water lilies, these variations become increasingly subtle.
His long stay in Venice in the fall of 1908 was a continuous working session during which the artist realized 37 oil paintings divided into several themes. Upon his return to Paris, Bernheim-Jeune acquired 28 of these pieces that remained in the artist's studio for the finishing touches.
In 1912, everything is ready. The exhibition of the views of Venice by Monet at the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune enchants the most demanding visitors.
From morning to twilight, Monet had observed all the color variations introduced by the play of the sunlight through the fog. His views of the Palazzo Ducale taken from San Giorgio Maggiore are topographically correct but the details are embedded in a beautiful diffused light that encompasses the monuments and their reflections. The foreground of a pontoon is similarly stripped of details to only serve for opening the perspective.
One of these paintings is at the MET and another one at the Guggenheim Museum. Sotheby's sells on February 3 in London another example of the same theme, which is probably the closest to the original ideas of Impressionism and had been included in the exhibition of 1912. This oil on canvas 65 x 100 cm is estimated £ 12M, lot 23.
Monet is not the first artist to express the ethereal light of Venice. The contribution of his art compared to Turner's views is the fact that Monet, only interested in the atmosphere, removes any anecdotal animation. The gondola that slides in front of the Piazza serves only to underline a strong point of the composition.
His long stay in Venice in the fall of 1908 was a continuous working session during which the artist realized 37 oil paintings divided into several themes. Upon his return to Paris, Bernheim-Jeune acquired 28 of these pieces that remained in the artist's studio for the finishing touches.
In 1912, everything is ready. The exhibition of the views of Venice by Monet at the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune enchants the most demanding visitors.
From morning to twilight, Monet had observed all the color variations introduced by the play of the sunlight through the fog. His views of the Palazzo Ducale taken from San Giorgio Maggiore are topographically correct but the details are embedded in a beautiful diffused light that encompasses the monuments and their reflections. The foreground of a pontoon is similarly stripped of details to only serve for opening the perspective.
One of these paintings is at the MET and another one at the Guggenheim Museum. Sotheby's sells on February 3 in London another example of the same theme, which is probably the closest to the original ideas of Impressionism and had been included in the exhibition of 1912. This oil on canvas 65 x 100 cm is estimated £ 12M, lot 23.
Monet is not the first artist to express the ethereal light of Venice. The contribution of his art compared to Turner's views is the fact that Monet, only interested in the atmosphere, removes any anecdotal animation. The gondola that slides in front of the Piazza serves only to underline a strong point of the composition.
#AuctionUpdate La Serenissima: Claude #Monet’s dreamlike #Venice scene sells for £11.6 million pic.twitter.com/oVhf43L9uR
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) February 3, 2016
1961 Venice by Night with Fontana
2017 SOLD for £ 10M including premium
In early 1961 Lucio Fontana prepares eleven acrylic paintings on canvas in a single size 150 x 150 cm for the exhibition Arte e Contemplazione in July in the Palazzo Grassi. This collection with his usual title Concetto Spaziale displays the artist's abstract impressions in Venice throughout day and night. After this achievement Fontana completed his vision by eleven other paintings before the end of that year.
Fontana knows well Venice that he often revisits with his wife Teresita. His square format also invites for a tribute to the urban balance of the Piazza San Marco, the theme of no less than four opus among the 22 artworks of the series.
On October 6 in London, Christie's sells as lot 106 one of the first eleven works. Located 'In piazza San Marco di notte con Teresita', it is certainly the best synthesis of the techniques used in this series : small holes and inlaid colored glassware on a heavy impasto of homogeneous color, a light-reflecting intense black for this specific case.
The holes form an almost regular outer square. The middle of the image is dotted with spots of color that express the artist's quest for a separation between the tangible space and the cosmos, like the glass windows in a church, anticipating the series of pierced oval canvases titled La Fine of Dio made in 1963-1964. This unconventional vision of Venice also responds to the artist's intention to promote an anti-bourgeois art.
Fontana knows well Venice that he often revisits with his wife Teresita. His square format also invites for a tribute to the urban balance of the Piazza San Marco, the theme of no less than four opus among the 22 artworks of the series.
On October 6 in London, Christie's sells as lot 106 one of the first eleven works. Located 'In piazza San Marco di notte con Teresita', it is certainly the best synthesis of the techniques used in this series : small holes and inlaid colored glassware on a heavy impasto of homogeneous color, a light-reflecting intense black for this specific case.
The holes form an almost regular outer square. The middle of the image is dotted with spots of color that express the artist's quest for a separation between the tangible space and the cosmos, like the glass windows in a church, anticipating the series of pierced oval canvases titled La Fine of Dio made in 1963-1964. This unconventional vision of Venice also responds to the artist's intention to promote an anti-bourgeois art.