Venice, from the Porch of Madonna della Salute

A painting by a talented English Romantic artist, depicting the view of Venice from the steps of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. This Baroque church, completed in 1687, is located at the entrance to the Grand Canal and is one of the most famous symbols of Venice. The author visited there three times and became famous for his canvases painted during these trips. Also, his sketches served as the basis for the works of many other artists. The work is done in oil on canvas and is currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The author was a master of the play of light and shadow, and this painting is no exception. We see an atmospherically depicted Venetian lagoon, executed in pastel white-blue and yellow-golden shades. To achieve smooth transitions, the artist worked in the wet-on-wet technique. It is interesting that the architecture depicted here is quite clear and detailed, while the water and sky are more blurred and seemingly fairytale-like. This creates a balance between the artificial and the natural, which interact with each other.