ID number: BIRBI-54.1 Institution: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts Artist / Maker: Canaletto, Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768) Title / Object name: The Loggetta, Venice Object type: Painting
Place made: Venice Culture: Italian Date made: the 1730s Materials: Oil on canvas Measurements: 45.5 x 75.4 cm Provenance: George Gee, Manchester; Christie's, 9 May 1864; James Whatman; Christie's, 20 February 1882 (lot 23), purchased by Martin Colnaghi; G. A. F. Cavendish-Bentinck, MP; Christie's, 8 July 1891 (lot 630), purchased by Richter; Sir Robert Mond; Mrs H. G. Brackley; Sotheby's, 20 May 1953 (lot 53), purchased by Murray for £2,300; purchased from Edward Speelman in January 1954 for £3,000.
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The Loggetta (1537-40), at the base of the campanile, or bell tower, in Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, was built as a small assembly room. Canaletto’s painting was cut down at an unknown date, perhaps so that it could fit over a door. It originally showed much more of the campanile therefore. The tower was painted out at the time of the alteration and it was only revealed again when the work was cleaned in 1964.
Canaletto was the best known of the 18th-century Venetian topographical painters whose views of the city were primarily sold to foreign visitors.
Notes: Exhibited: 'Eighteenth Century Venice', Whitechapel, London, 1951 (11); Birmingham, 1951 (11); 'Painters and Decorators: The Making of 15th-18th Century Italian Art', Northampton Museums and Art Gallery, Northampton, 26 September 1998 - 15 November 1998; 'Venezia! The Northampton Festival', Northampton Museums and Art Gallery, Northampton, 26 April 2008 - 10 August 2008
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