Reception by the Doge of Foreign Ambassadors in the Sala del Collegio
Medium
etching and engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 44.8 x 57.4 cm (17 5/8 x 22 5/8 in.) sheet: 50.3 x 67.4 cm (19 13/16 x 26 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Mark J. Millard Architectural Collection
Accession Number
1985.61.461
Art Historical Context
This striking print captures a grand diplomatic ceremony in Venice’s Doge’s Palace, where the Doge formally receives foreign ambassadors in the richly decorated Sala del Collegio. Created between 1763 and 1766 by Giovanni Battista Brustolon after a design by Canaletto, the image showcases the opulence of the Venetian Republic at the height of its ceremonial traditions. Canaletto’s precise architectural vision is faithfully translated here, emphasizing the room’s ornate ceiling, gilded details, and the measured procession of figures that convey both political power and theatrical spectacle. Ex...