Gezicht op de Piazza San Marco naar de San Marco gezien, te Venetië c. 1739 - 1740

Bernardo Bellotto rendered this ink drawing of the Piazza San Marco in Venice sometime in the mid-18th century. Bellotto was celebrated for his vedute, or views, of European cities. In this drawing, we see the heart of Venetian public life. The figures populating the square—merchants, nobles, and everyday citizens—reveal the layered society of Venice. This was a world powered by trade and shaped by rigid social hierarchies. Bellotto captures the spatial relationships, but he also hints at the economic and social choreography that defined Venice. Bellotto’s approach was shaped by the Enlightenment’s emphasis on empirical observation. Yet, his drawings also tap into a deeper, more personal appreciation for the beauty and complexity of urban life. In viewing this drawing we can consider our own relationship to public spaces today, and how they reflect and shape our collective identities.