S. Giustina in pra della Vale

Canaletto

1740

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century

About this work

This drawing shows a busy town square with a large church at the center. The church has two big domes and a clock tower. In the foreground, people walk, talk, and ride in carts. Some buildings line the square, with arched doorways and windows. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show every detail, like the folds in people’s clothes or the texture of the church walls. This was a way to make the scene look real and three-dimensional. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Canaletto created these sharp, precise prints.