19th century, Views of Venice

early nineteenth century

Views of Venice

(6) Oil on glass, cm diam. 6

Frame, 32 x 39 cm

The work consists of six meticulous circular paintings executed on glass using the fixité or under-glass painting technique, set within thin gilded metal frames and arranged in symmetrical harmony on a shaped, fabric-covered support. The work, with striking descriptive clarity and refined miniaturist flair, offers an ideal repertoire of Venice's iconic landmarks, conceived to satisfy the cultured demand of travelers who frequented the lagoon during the 19th century. The iconographic selection ranges from the city's most famous views, rendered with a rigorous perspective system: at the top left, the ancient Palazzo Pisani in Campo Santo Stefano; in the center, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo with the basilica of the same name; and the Scuola Grande di San Marco, flanked on the right by a frontal view of St. Mark's Basilica animated by figures in the square. In the lower section, the visual itinerary continues on the left with a low view of the Rialto Bridge traversed by gondolas, in the center with the wide perspective of Piazza San Marco dominated by the Campanile and taken from the Procuratie, to conclude on the right with the evocative glimpse of the Bridge of Sighs squeezed between the Doge's Palace and the New Prisons.

From a historical, artistic, and sociocultural perspective, the artifact fits squarely into the production of high-quality artistic craftsmanship associated with the Grand Tour, the educational journey initially undertaken by European aristocratic elites between the 17th and 18th centuries, which became widespread among the international bourgeoisie in the 19th century. Venice was an essential stop on the Italian itinerary due to its unique charm, its urban layout on the water, and the centuries-old myth of its history. To preserve the visual memory of their journey, travelers favored small, refined, and easily transportable objects—true luxury souvenirs destined to adorn private homes across the Alps.

The creation of these micro-paintings required extraordinary technical expertise, as painting on glass requires the craftsman to proceed "in reverse", first applying the infinitesimal details, the figures and the points of light in the foreground, before applying the background colours, the architecture and the skies.

For Italy only: with Ars Antiqua it is possible to pay in installments up to a maximum of €7.500 at ZERO INTEREST, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS

E.g. Total €4.500 = Monthly installment €300 for 15 months.

E.g. Total €3.600 = Monthly installment €720 for 5 months.

For amounts exceeding €7.500 or for a longer period of time (over 15 installments), we can provide a personalized payment.

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All the works proposed by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law and an accurate information sheet.

It is possible to see the works directly at the showroom gallery in Milan, in via Pisacane 55 and 57.

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