Upper Portion of the Facade of St Mark's, Venice
1862
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1862
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a green horse statue standing tall on a stone platform, with a grand, arched building behind it. The horse is rearing up on its hind legs, looking powerful. Below, pigeons scatter on the steps, and people walk or sit in the background near a waterfront with boats. The artist used loose, quick brushstrokes to capture light and movement—notice how the sky and buildings look slightly blurred. This style was common in the 1800s when artists wanted to show real-life scenes as they appeared in the moment. Look up Realism next to see how this painting fits into that movement.
