Venice, the Canale di Santa Chiara c. 1740 - 1750

Canaletto painted ‘Venice, the Canale di Santa Chiara’ during a time when Venice was a hub for wealthy tourists, particularly the British, seeking the picturesque and the historic. Canaletto, born Giovanni Antonio Canal, catered to this market by producing views known as ‘vedute.’ This painting offers us a window into the gendered and class-based dynamics of 18th-century Venice. Gondolas, symbols of Venetian identity and mobility, carry figures likely belonging to the upper classes, while the gondoliers, the working class, navigate the canals. It’s interesting to consider how gender is performed in this space; women are almost exclusively passengers, suggesting limited roles in public life. Canaletto’s mastery lies in his ability to capture the city's unique atmosphere, a skill that catered to the desires of his patrons who sought to take a piece of Venice home with them. What is the relationship between the lived experience of Venice and the images that are captured for commercial purposes?