Plate 9: Procession on Corpus Christi Day in the Piazza San Marco, from 'Ducal Ceremonies and Festivals' (Le Feste Ducali) 1746 - 1786

Giovanni Battista Brustolon created this print, "Procession on Corpus Christi Day in the Piazza San Marco," using etching. The composition directs our gaze into the vast open space of the piazza, bordered by long arcades that emphasize linear perspective. Brustolon masterfully manipulates light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and scale. The figures are rendered with precise detail, and the architecture of the buildings becomes an intricate play of lines and shapes. The use of perspective invites us to consider not just the scene, but also how it is constructed. It prompts us to see the composition as a carefully structured arrangement of forms and lines. Brustolon’s manipulation of perspective and detail challenges a singular viewpoint, suggesting that meaning is constructed through the visual language he employs. The print invites us to reflect on the power and representation within the cityscape.