Venise, L’église Des Gesuati 1870 - 1880

Félix Ziem created this oil painting, "Venise, L’église Des Gesuati," sometime in the mid-to-late 19th century. It captures the Venetian lagoon with the church of Santa Maria del Rosario, known as the Gesuati, standing prominently on the left. Ziem was part of a generation of artists drawn to Venice, a city that, by this time, was a well-established tourist destination. His loose brushwork and focus on light and atmosphere reflect the influence of Impressionism, though Ziem maintained a style distinct from the French movement. The painting presents a romanticized view of Venice, emphasizing its picturesque qualities rather than the social realities of the city. For many artists like Ziem, Venice represented a space outside of modernity. To fully understand paintings like this, historians delve into travel accounts, guidebooks, and exhibition reviews of the time. These resources help us to understand Venice as a historical and cultural construct, not just a geographical location.