Van Gogh •
Artist Biographies
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Giovanni Antonio Canale Canaletto
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Giovanni Antonio Canale Canaletto |
| Birth Year : |
1697 |
| Death Year : |
1768 |
| Country : |
Italy |
Giovanni Antonio Canalt, known as Canaletto, was born in Venice where his father was a painter of theatrical scenery. The young Canaletto studied first
in his father's workshop then probably under the Dutch painter van Wittel. He next went to Rome, where he learned perspective from Panini, the famous
architectural artist. Immediately upon his return to Venice, in 1720, Canaletto became successful as a painter
and engraver of city scenes. Among his early and enthusiastic patrons was the British consul Joseph Smith who urged
him to go to Britain. Before doing so, Canaletto returned to Rome for a two-year stay (1740-41) making his first
trip to England in 1745. Except for two trips to Venice, he remained there until 1755. He painted many familiar
English scenes and decorated many of the Palladian villas in the southern countries. He was elected to membership in the Venetian Academy in 1763. Canaletto had a large studio in Venice and turned out quantities of those paintings and etchings that have made his name synonymous with eighteenth-century Venice. These are observations painted by a man who knew the city intimately, was saturated with its atmosphere, and was familiar with both its festival gaiety and its everyday scenes. Canaletto recorded his observations with clarity and delight in the color and constantly changing atmosphere that to him was Venice.
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