San Simeone Piccolo, Venice, Seen from the Grand Canal 1721 - 1780

Bernardo Bellotto made this pen and brown ink drawing of San Simeone Piccolo in Venice sometime in the mid-18th century. Bellotto, like his uncle Canaletto, made a career out of vedute, or view paintings, of European cities, and Venice in particular. These picturesque views, which were often collected as souvenirs, helped construct a sense of place for those who hadn’t visited the city, but also catered to wealthy tourists who traveled there on the Grand Tour. Here, the artist captures the architectural details of the church, as well as everyday life on the canal. These types of images, while seemingly neutral, were never truly objective. The artist had to make choices about what to include and exclude, and how to frame the scene. As a historian, I’m interested in how these choices reflect the social and cultural values of the time. By studying these images, along with other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, society, and the construction of place.