A Magnificent Pavilion by the Lagoon (recto); The Grand Canal, with the Rialto Bridge from the South (verso)

Original title: A Magnificent Pavilion by the Lagoon (recto); The Grand Canal, with the Rialto Bridge from the South (verso)

Artist: Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal)
Date: ca. 1727–29
Medium: Pen and brown ink, over traces of graphite
Dimensions: 8 x 5 9/16 in. (20.3 x 14.2 cm)
Credit line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975

kurzbeschreibung

This sheet by Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal) carries a sketch of a pavilion with a bell tower on the front and a view of the Grand Canal with the Rialto Bridge on the back. The drawing dates from around 1727–29 and is executed in pen and brown ink over traces of graphite.

Description

A pavilion with columns, a balcony and a bell tower set on top fills the front of the sheet. To the left appears a bridge with a single figure standing on it; at the back right, a roof with a window and door is indicated. Thin, sketchy strokes in brown tones outline the building's structure with many details. The arrangement runs horizontally, with the bell tower as the focal point. Light falls evenly across the sheet, without distinct shadows or bright highlights.

Context

Canaletto drew this study during his early Venetian period, when he was turning increasingly to vedute painting. Such records served him as groundwork for later paintings or etchings. The reverse, with the Rialto Bridge, confirms his interest in Venice's most famous buildings. What exactly the pavilion represents is not documented, but the sheet reveals his attention to architectural detail.

Impact

The precise, thin strokes give the sketch a technical clarity in which the lightness of Venetian light also echoes. Because everything is confined to brown and grey tones, a calm, objective mood arises that directs the gaze to the architectural structures.

Technique

Canaletto worked with pen and brown ink over graphite traces, as was usual for preparatory studies. The controlled, thin lines demonstrate his sure hand and his feeling for perspective. The ink appears in various shades of brown, giving the drawing depth without the use of hatching or washes.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)