1742
View of Piazza San Marco, Facing San Marco
Antonio VisentiniItalian, 1688 - 1782
In 1735, Joseph Smith and Giovanni Battista Pasquali issued the first edition of a series of prints by the architect and etcher Antonio Visentini after Canaletto's paintings of the Grand Canal owned by Smith. The set was widely popular and a greatly expanded second edition was published in 1742 with additional views of the Grand Canal and of several major churches in the city. The prints served both as models for potential patrons to select a subject to be painted by Canaletto and as affordable alternatives to purchasing a painting by the artist (whose prices were notoriously high). Views of the Piazza San Marco, the main square in the city, were a favorite choice for Canaletto's clients.
This record is part of an ongoing effort to share accurate and evolving information. If you notice anything we should improve, we welcome your feedback at [email protected]
Images on this site are shared for educational use. For image rights, permissions, or to learn more about image rights and access, email [email protected]