MBA002: Lot 62. VISENTINI, Antonio.

This scene shows a relatively quiet backwater of Venice, in the eastern district of Castello. The central focal point in the background is the facade of the early 16th century church of San Giuseppe, now called San Giuseppe di Castello, which appears largely unchanged today. The nearer edifice of the slightly earlier, neo-Byzantine church of San Nicolò, in the right foreground, has long-since been demolished.

“”Self-styled as painter, architect, and engraver, Visentini enjoyed a long career in Venice where he was connected to the Academia and to the artistic and publishing circle centred around Consul Joseph Smith. Visentini's etchings are distinguished in the confidence and authority of their perspectival projection and etched line. Visentini's buildings seldom sag and never “”sink”” under their own weight into the water of the canals as they occasionally might in the work of Carlevaris and Mariechi. Canaletto's compositions are quite various and are refreshingly dramatic in the contrast between the large foreground buildings and the smaller ones in the receding perspective.

These views were crucial to forming the image of Venice in the mind of its visitors”” (Millard).

Description

Engraving after Canaletto, 405 x 555 mm.

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