The Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice
1740–41
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
55.7 × 84.2 cm (21 7/8 × 33 1/8 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55621
Art Historical Context
This luminous oil on canvas captures the majestic Church of Santa Maria della Salute rising above the Grand Canal in Venice. Painted by Michele Giovanni Marieschi between 1740 and 1741, the work belongs to the rich tradition of Venetian view painting, or vedute, that flourished in the eighteenth century. At roughly 22 by 33 inches, the modest scale invites close looking, allowing viewers to appreciate the artist’s delicate rendering of architectural detail and shimmering water. Marieschi, a Venetian native, specialized in such scenes that celebrated his city’s unique beauty and maritime chara...