Venice: Riva degli Schiavoni 1732

This is Canaletto's 'Venice: Riva degli Schiavoni', a pen and ink wash on paper. Canaletto was celebrated during his lifetime for his vedute, his highly detailed, large-scale views of Venice. Here we see a more informal approach. With loose lines and an eye for everyday life, he gives us a street-level perspective. Venice in the 18th century was a popular destination for wealthy Europeans. Artists like Canaletto made a living creating views that tourists could take home as souvenirs. His paintings and drawings are filled with specific details, like the architecture of the Doge's Palace and the bustling activity of the Riva degli Schiavoni. To understand art fully, we need to research the social conditions of its making. What was tourism's impact on Venice? How did the art market shape artistic production? These are questions for historians, and the answers lie in archives, libraries, and historical societies. By exploring these resources, we can better understand the complex relationship between art and society.