Venetian Lyric (San Giorgio)(?) c. 1900 - 1910

Curator: Arthur Studd, born in 1863, painted this small oil on board, titled, “Venetian Lyric (San Giorgio)(?)”. Editor: The misty blues and greys give it such a melancholy feel. I’m immediately drawn to the texture, it's thick. I want to know about the facture, the labour in each visible stroke. Curator: Yes, notice how San Giorgio Maggiore almost dissolves into the vaporous atmosphere. It certainly recalls Venice’s long history of symbolism, reflecting on themes of mortality and transcendence. Editor: Look at the visible brushstrokes though, they create a tangible surface! It’s oil paint, but it's applied so directly. There's a tension between the symbolic subject and the very physical act of its creation. Curator: Perhaps the blurred edges suggest an ephemeral quality, a kind of collective memory fading into the lagoon itself. Editor: And maybe the artist chose this small scale to make it portable, like a souvenir for wealthy tourists consuming Venetian views. Curator: Both the spiritual symbolism and the material handling speak to different desires. Editor: Absolutely, and both leave their mark on our viewing experience.