View of Santi Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo), Venice 1763

Giovanni Battista Brustolon created this print of the View of Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Venice using etching, a medium known for its intricate detail and delicate lines. The print captures a vast Venetian square dominated by the imposing facades of the church and the Scuola Grande di San Marco. Brustolon masterfully uses linear perspective to create depth, drawing the eye from the foreground canals toward the background buildings. The repetition of vertical lines in the architecture creates a sense of grandeur and order, while the etching technique allows for subtle variations in tone, bringing light and shadow to the composition. The artwork plays with semiotics, the architectural structures serving as signs of power, wealth, and religious authority within the Venetian Republic. The inclusion of human figures adds scale but also hints at the daily life unfolding against this grand backdrop. Ultimately, it’s the formal articulation through line and composition which elevates this print, transforming a topographical view into a study of space, power, and representation.