Experiencing and Painting Venice in the 18th century

Interesting online lecture from the Wallace Collection using their collection of Canaletto’s to explore why visitors went to Venice in the 18th century and what pictures they bought when they were there.

Leila Parker from the gallery explained how Venice was a hub for tourists on the Grand Tour who came for the spectacle of the architecture and the pageants.

She outlined some of the annual events such as Ascension Day when the Doge, on his ceremonial barge, sailed out to the edge of the sea and threw in a ring to symbolise the marriage of the city and the sea.

She then used the paintings to take us on a tour of the city showing the main sites which tourists, then as now, wanted a record of.

 

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