Plein met ruiterstandbeeld 1707 - 1768

Canaletto created this print of a public square with an equestrian statue in Venice using etching. The view presents us with an unusual perspective, far from the Grand Canal views that made Canaletto famous with British tourists. It offers a glimpse into the social and institutional life of Venice, a republic in decline, but still proud of its history and traditions. The statue of a military hero on horseback, elevated above the common people, evokes Venice's martial past. Yet, the architecture seems worn and ramshackle, not grand at all. Canaletto made use of printmaking late in his career, possibly as a way of making money when tourism slowed due to war. The print medium itself was undergoing changes at this time, as artists and entrepreneurs explored ways to create mass-produced art for a growing middle class. To fully understand this print, one might research the history of Venice in the 18th century, its political institutions, and the changing role of art in society.