Artwork
The Molo in Front of the Doge's Palace in Venice
The Molo in Front of the Doge's Palace in Venice is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Canaletto. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted in 1730, this landscape captures a specific vista of Venice, focusing on the Molo waterfront situated directly before the Doge's Palace.
Painted in 1730, this landscape captures a specific vista of Venice, focusing on the Molo waterfront situated directly before the Doge's Palace. The composition incorporates significant architectural landmarks, explicitly depicting the Doge's Palace alongside the Piazzetta San Marco. In the background, the dome of the Santa Maria della Salute is visible, anchoring the scene within the city's recognizable topography.
By assembling these distinct structures into a single view, the work functions as a detailed topographical record of the Venetian lagoon's most prominent civic and religious sites.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1730, this work is an oil painting on an unspecified support. The piece functions as a landscape, capturing a specific Venetian view that includes the Doge's Palace, the Piazzetta San Marco, and the church of Santa Maria della Salute. As a product of Canaletto's mature period, the composition focuses on the architectural grandeur of the Molo.
The available records confirm the medium and subject matter but do not provide specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, the physical condition of the canvas, or the precise dimensions of the panel.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Molo in Front of the Doge's Palace in Venice was created in 1730 by Canaletto using oil paint. It entered the collection of Moriz Königswarter before being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it remains on display.
Overview
Created in 1730, this oil painting portrays a stretch of Venice’s central waterfront, centering on the Doge’s Palace and the adjoining piazza. The composition captures the bustling activity of the quay, with vessels moored alongside stone steps and pedestrians moving along the promenade under a clear sky.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Antonio Canal (18 October 1697 – 19 April 1768), commonly known as Canaletto (Italian: ), was an Italian painter from the Republic of Venice, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
View of the Grand Canal toward the Punta della Dogana
Arrival of the French Ambassador in Venice
The Bucintoro at the Molo on Ascension Day
Procession of Gondolas in the Bacino di San Marco, Venice
Grand Canal with Sam Simeone piccolo
The Grand Canal in Venice with the Rialto Bridge
View of Venice from the Island of San Giorgio
Santa Maria della Salute and Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice