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Exhibition

Canaletto and the Art of Venice

Details of gondola on a Venice canal
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The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace

OTHER VENUES
The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse National Gallery of Ireland [Dublin]
  • Daily (Friday, 19 May 2017 - Sunday, 12 Nov 2017)

The Royal Collection contains the world's finest group of paintings, drawings and prints by Venice's most famous view-painter, Canaletto (1697-1768). These works were bought by the young George III in 1762 from Canaletto's agent and dealer Joseph Smith, British Consul in Venice, along with the rest of Smith's huge collection.

The exhibition presents a spectacular selection of eighteenth-century Venetian art, with Canaletto's greatest works shown alongside paintings and works on paper by Sebastiano and Marco Ricci, Francesco Zuccarelli, Rosalba Carriera, Pietro Longhi and Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. The exhibition explores the many delights of eighteenth-century Venice, from the splendours of the Grand Canal and St Mark's Square to its festivals, theatre and masked carnival, bringing the irresistible allure of the most beautiful city in the world to The Queen's Gallery.

This film introduces Canaletto and Consul Smith, and some of the themes of the exhibition.

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Highlight objects

Canaletto (Venice 1697-Venice 1768)

The Bacino di San Marco on Ascension Day

Canaletto (Venice 1697-Venice 1768)

The central stretch of the Grand Canal

Marco Ricci (Belluno 1676-Venice 1730)

Capriccio with Roman Ruins

Canaletto (Venice 1697-Venice 1768)

Capriccio View with Palladio's Design for the Rialto Bridge
Explore the exhibition

Explore the exhibition

A drawing of the Libreria and the Molo in Venice. The Molo is the broad stone quay in front of the Palazzo Ducale and Libreria. The Libreria dominates the composition, but the two columns of San Teodoro and San Marco are depicted in front of the building.
Canaletto in Venice

Canaletto began as a set-painter, before turning to landscapes

A pen and ink drawing of two opera singers in costume: full-length figures turned in profile to the left; a male singer in Oriental costume imploring a female singer, who faces away. Dated at the upper right corner, 1728. The singers in thi
Opera and Theatre

Eighteenth-century Venice was a city of performance and spectacle

A pen and ink drawing of a rock-arch over a stream, with fishermen climbing rocks on the right, towards two women who look down on them. This drawing is probably directly preparatory for one of Marco Ricci's etchings, as the careful handlin
Landscape drawing

The idealised rural landscape had always been popular in Venetian art

An etching of the landing place for boats at Mestre on the Venetian mainland. The building on the left in the foreground has Canaletto's chevron coat-of-arms. The area around the canal is filled with many figures and a wagon. Second state, Bromb
Printmaking in Venice

Venice was an important print-making centre for centuries

A print by Cattini reproducing a drawing of a young huntsman and two young women holding a caged bird by Piazzetta in the Royal Collection (see RCIN 991252). Lettered within a printed border with the names of the artists and a dedication to Pros
Chiaroscuro woodcuts

Eighteenth-century Venice led a revival in chiaroscuro

A drawing of a view in Piazza San Marco in Venice. On the left is part of the Procuratie Vecchie, and the Torre dell'Orologio - a large clock tower containing an astrological clock. On the right is part of the Basilica di San Marco. Many figures are depic
The capriccio

Grand Tourists enjoyed these fantasy compositions

Both this painting and RCIN 405078 show a great debt to Marco Ricci's capricci, both in oil and in tempera on leather, which Canaletto would have been able to study in Consul Joseph Smith's collection. The compositions, with large ruined arch or arches in
Artists in Venice

Canaletto was one of many artists working in Venice

This view is from the west end of the nave up to the high altar of San Marco, with the dome of the Pentecost overhead and the dome of the Ascension beyond, partially obscured by the banner. The lives of the Apostles, with the Crucifixion of St Andrew clea
Canaletto's Paintings

Smith and Canaletto developed a friendship over 40 years

This is one of a series of twelve views by Canaletto of the Grand Canal which are all the same format. The pictures form the basis of the fourteen engraved plates in Visentini's <em>Prospectus Magni Canalis Venetiarum</em> (Venice, 1735), thus providing a
The Grand Canal series

The series was one of Consul Smith's principle commissions

This painting is one of a unique group of five large upright views of Rome, depicting the major sights of the ancient city (RCIN 401002, RCIN 400700, RCIN 400713, RCIN 400524, RCIN 400714). Unusually for Canaletto, all the works are signed and dated promi
Canaletto's Roman Views

Canaletto made these views of Rome's monuments for Consul Smith

A full-bound brown sheepskin volume with gold tooling and the crest of Joseph Smith on the front. Inside, marbled endpapers and a watercolour frontispiece by Antonio Visentini of Smith's coat of arms, and a portrait print of Visentini. The volume contains
Joseph Smith and the Pasquali press

Smith was a passionate book collector

B(M) 517. Architectural elevation of an exterior in classical style: portico-front with double pediments, supported by columns and pilasters, Composite capitals. Below, plan of the front.
Book illustration in Venice

Many artists produced illustrations for printed books

Events programme

Schools sessions
Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4, key stage 5
A Grand Tour of Venice - A Creative Writing workshop

The many possibilities for inspiring Creative Writing from works of art, compared to more familiar sources such as books and the internet
Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4
How do you create a Landscape?

Examine the techniques and skills used by Canaletto and other artists featured in Canaletto & the Art of Venice to produce these fine examples of landscapes
Key stage 1
On a Grand Tour - a drama workshop

In this exciting drama session children plan an imaginary trip to Venice to choose a painting for The Queen

Related content

Cover for Canaletto
Publication
Canaletto and the Art of Venice

Exhibition catalogue

Infrared image of Canaletto drawing
New insight into Canaletto's working technique

Research suggests that Canaletto did not use a camera obscura

Screenshot of the page of website for the Exhibition on Screen showing of Canaletto
Canaletto & the Art of Venice in cinemas

Exhibition on Screen will broadcast a documentary film of Canaletto & the Art of Venice

Map & directions

The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
 DIRECTIONS VIA GOOGLE MAPS
By train

The nearest train stations are London Victoria (10 minute walk) or London Charing Cross (20 minute walk). 

Visit National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.

By underground

The nearest tube stations are Victoria, Green Park, St. James's Park and Hyde Park Corner (all approximately 10 minutes walk).  

For further information visit the Transport for London website.

By coach / bus

Bus numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.  Victoria Coach Station is a 10-minute walk from the Palace.  

For further information visit the Transport for London website.

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Official Royal Residences

The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.