View of Piazza San Marco, with the church of San Geminiano at the far end, and figures and market stalls in the foreground
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Plate: 12 11/16 × 18 1/4 in. (32.3 × 46.4 cm) Sheet: 13 11/16 × 18 9/16 in. (34.8 × 47.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1960
Accession Number
60.611.29(1)
Art Historical Context
This etching by Canaletto captures the lively energy of Venice’s Piazza San Marco in 1763, with the now-lost church of San Geminiano anchoring the far end of the square. Market stalls and elegantly dressed figures populate the foreground, offering a vivid snapshot of daily commerce and social life in one of Europe’s most celebrated public spaces. Known for his precise vedute, or city views, Canaletto here translates his celebrated painting style into the medium of etching, allowing the intricate details of Venetian architecture and bustling activity to reach a wider audience. Created late in ...