The Molo, Venice, from the Bacino di San Marco 1706 - 1712

Luca Carlevaris painted this view of The Molo, Venice, from the Bacino di San Marco, using oil on canvas. The buildings and boats are bathed in a cool, diffuse light, which renders the architectural details with precision. Carlevaris’s approach to composition is striking. Notice the way the buildings are stacked across the picture plane: from the Doge’s Palace, to the Library and the Bell Tower. This creates a rhythmic interplay of horizontal and vertical lines, giving the painting a sense of balance. But look closer, and you’ll see that the artist creates depth and perspective, using orthogonals that converge towards a vanishing point. The use of aerial perspective softens forms and mutes colors, suggesting infinite space. The artist uses the architectural forms to articulate Venice as a city of power, commerce, and culture, while the brushstrokes suggest a living city. The painting becomes a complex sign, open to ongoing interpretation.