Few artists have become so closely associated with their home and have done so much to shape the concepts of that place for other people, as Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto. His detailed and precise depictions of Venice have become a significant way in which the city is understood and imagined far beyond Venice and Italy. 

The clear light, clean, smooth waterways and sharp edges of his buildings came from incessant, meticulous study but were at the same time appreciated as works of natural creativity and spontaneity. Canaletto’s success coincided with the increasing popularity of the Grand Tour, a long journey in Europe, especially Italy, taken by the wealthy and aristocratic. His paintings became prized as mementos of such journeys and were brought home by Grand Tourists, most particularly the British. He was so successful with British clients that he was persuaded to travel to London and work there producing views of the Thames. 

In this session we will first look at Canaletto’s life, how his work developed over time while also grappling with one of the key questions in his work: the relationship between truth and imagination in his paintings. In the second half, we will explore in greater depth Canaletto’s British period. Canaletto’s popularity with British clients was helped by Joseph Smith, British Consul to Venice, which enabled Canaletto to travel to London, and succeeded in turning the Thames into the Grand Canal.