Canaletto and His Rivals

I dont post on too many museum exhibitions as there are many sites and publications which track and promote them. Seeing a preview article in the Washington Post of the upcoming National Gallery of Art exhibition Venice: Canaletto and Rivals I thought I should make an exception.  The show will contain 21 Venetian cityscapes by Canaletto and 34 by his contemporaries and "rivals".

What I find interesting about the show is of course not only the great art and scenes of Venice, but also the competition between the artists of the region and period to supply those on the Grand Tour with scenes of Venice.

It is a very enjoyable and interesting article, and if any readers are in the DC area between Feb 20 and May 30, they should view the exhibition.

The Washington Post reports

By the time Canaletto came on the scene in the 1720s, he one-upped Carlevarijs in scenes they both attempted. Popular views included the government's ceremonial ship, or bucintoro, on Ascension Day, the city's biggest holiday; other strong sellers were pictures of regattas on the Grand Canal.

The very notion of originality, of a unique point of view, was a nonissue in the 18th century. When five artists painted the same scene, they weren't trying to gain a new angle. Instead, they differentiated themselves through color or light.

Want really well-rendered figures? Buy a Carlevarijs. Want atmosphere? Try Canaletto. Want bright backgrounds with pops of color? Try Michele Marieschi, Canaletto's closest rival for a time. (When Marieschi died young, Canaletto no doubt rested easier.)

The 1730s were boom years for Canaletto, who gained a patron and agent in English merchant banker Joseph Smith. Smith helped set up major deals, including a 24-canvas commission for John Russell, the Fourth Duke of Bedford, and a 20-piece stash for his brother-in-law, the Third Duke of Marlborough.

As the stakes rose, Canaletto's rivals soon milked his weaknesses. When he moved to England, copycats took over his market. When he returned to Venice, his reputation waning, competitors pointed out his fading brand.

What "Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals" promises - and we trust it will deliver - is fresh insight into the 18th century's upscale tourist trade. By bringing heat and light to Canaletto's competitors, the exhibition should offer a compelling slice of vedutisti power struggles.

To read the Washington Post show preview, click HERE.

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COMING SOON! The Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies - 2011.

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