Festa della Sensa

About this artwork

Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

**Festa della S** is a captivating etching by Giovanni Battista Brustoloni, a printmaker active in the 18th century, created in 1766. Measuring 449 × 568 mm, this large-scale print vividly captures the grandeur of Venice's annual *Festa della Sensa or Feast of the Ascension. This historic celebration commemorated the city's maritime dominion, featuring a ceremonial procession from St. Mark's Basilica to the Lido, where the doge traditionally cast a ring into the lagoon to symbolize Venice's "marriage to the sea." Brustoloni's work freezes this lively spectacle, likely showcasing bustling crowd...