The Grand Canal at Rialto 1740

Canaletto made this painting of the Grand Canal at Rialto, in Venice, during the eighteenth century. The image captures a busy waterway, with gondolas and other boats crisscrossing the canal, set against the backdrop of Venice's impressive architecture. Canaletto's paintings were popular souvenirs for wealthy Europeans undertaking the Grand Tour. But they also reflect Venice's unique social and economic structure. The city was a republic ruled by a merchant oligarchy, and its wealth depended on maritime trade. The Grand Canal was the city's main thoroughfare, and the Rialto was its commercial center. Canaletto's paintings celebrated Venice's unique urban fabric, but they also served to legitimize the power of the city's ruling class. The art historian brings to light the relationship between artistic production and social context. By looking at archival documents, such as letters, contracts, and inventories, we can gain a better understanding of the social forces that shaped Canaletto's work, and the role of art in eighteenth-century Venice.