Canaletto

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Canaletto in England: A Venetian Artist Abroad, 1746-1765 (Yale Center for British Art)
Beddington
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300119690

Book Description

The fame of Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, rests mainly on his vivid paintings of Venice, his native city. Only rarely was he tempted to travel, but the popularity of his works with British tourists and patrons led him to England in 1746, and his visit became a productive, nine-year stay. This beautiful book focuses on the fruits of Canaletto’s English sojourn, reproducing the views of London he painted while there, as well as the Italian and imaginary views he painted in response to the vigorous demands of his patrons.

The book offers a full study of Canaletto’s English period along with detailed catalogue entries for about fifty paintings and twenty drawings. The works depict such landmarks as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Somerset House, and Westminster Bridge as well as views of Venice and Rome and caprices in which the artist playfully organizes Renaissance palaces and Classical ruins in fanciful juxtapositions.

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Beautiful Paintings - Dry Prose
View Painter Extraordinaire

Canaletto
J. G. Links
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Views of Venice
Canaletto: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)
Canaletto in Venice
Venice through Canaletto's Eyes (National Gallery London Publications)
Sisley

ASIN: 0714831700

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Paintings - Dry Prose.......2006-07-14

Canaletto, by J.G. Links follows the Phaidon tradition of delivering a beautiful book, full of detailed colour plates, for a fairly modest price. The pictures alone make the book worth purchasing.

Canaletto, a Venetian painter of the early 18th Century, moved from painting stage backdrops to gorgeous perspective views of his native town. If you have ever been to Venice you know that it has an achingly beautiful prospect around every corner. Canaletto reproduced these views artistically, with a keen eye for perspective, architectural detail and atmosphere. His paintings will leave you wanting to book the next flight to Italy. Phaidon does a wonderful job of reproducing his images, in full colour with plenty of detail plates. Canaletto's later work in London and his capriccios and ink drawings are also included. From a visual perspective this book is stunning.

It is, however, a little lacking when it comes to the text. It would seem that we only really know anything about Canaletto through his contacts with a couple of British middlemen , McSwiney and Smith, who engaged him to paint views of Venice for rich Englishman who had toured Venice. We are treated to numerous details about provenances and the lives of the British agents but precious little about Canaletto himself. His style is discussed largely in terms of technique - his use of perspective and the slight deviations he made from the real scenes. But a more in depth analysis of motivation and aesthetics never materializes. A final quibble would be the lack of a good map of Venice. A plan of Venice from 1729 is included, with labels in Italian but is mostly inadequate. The author assumes the reader is familiar with Venetian topology and rarely clarifies details of place.

The book is richly deserving of five stars for its images alone. The text is adequate but not particularily inspired. A brief chronology, list of sources and list of plates, together with a short index make up the somewhat abbreviated scholarly apparatus. If you are looking for a detailed life of Canaletto and a deep analysis of his paintings this book is probably not for you but if you want to simply wallow in the sheer beauty of Venice, it is a definite must.

View Painter Extraordinaire.......2000-03-12

J. G. Links is widely recognized as the reigning authority on the Venetian painter Canaletto. This masterful book is probably the most extensive study on the painter available in the English language. In addition to Links' very entertaining prose his book is filled with color plates of over 200 of Canaletto's paintings and sketches.

Little is known about Canaletto's life and Links does not try to read more into the few facts that do exist. He does try to piece together Canaletto's life by dating his many paintings. If you are a Canaletto enthusiast and want to know more about what inspired him and how he lived you will be disappointed. No one knows how or why this man became the greatest painter of "view paintings" of all time except that his father was a painter of theatre scenes and undoubtedly exposed the young Canaletto to his trade at an early age. Canaletto's nephew was Bernardo Bellotto, a man who at his very best could claim to be as good as his uncle. Whereas Bellotto painted mostly in Germany, Canaletto is most famous for his views of Venice. The shimmering reflections of the Grand Canal, the faded and peeling stucco sides of the palaces, the many boat plying the waterways, and finally the people of Venice are captured in the all- seeing eye of the "camera man" of the 18th century.

Canaletto's best patrons were the English who were overcome by Venice's beauty and Canaletto's ability to capture it on canvas. He made two trips to London and his works there of the newly built Westminister Bridge, the Thames, and the castles of the rich rival his works of his native city. Most of Canaletto'w works are on display in English museums or in private collections in that country.

Links is not an interpreter of art and does not attempt to explain in detail the many plates in his book from an artistic perspective. He does explain in great detail the relationship of Canaletto to several Englishmen in Venice who acted as brokers for his many works. Were it not for these men Canaletto's fame would probably have gone less noticed and certainly they are responsible for the many works that still survive, thought sadly many have vanished forever.

Book Description

This book explores Venice as it was and Canaletto' s interpretation of it, as he created what have become the archetypal images of the most beautiful city in the world.

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"Enjoyable, but..."

Views of Venice
Antonio Canaletto
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Canaletto
Canaletto: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)
Canaletto in Venice

ASIN: 0486227057

Book Description

Famous series of paintings reproduced in contemporary engravings by Visentini. Wonderful view of 18th-century Venice; thorough text by J. Links. 50 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

"Enjoyable, but...".......2000-01-10

Personally, I really enjoy this book. It contains many fascinating prints of Venice from the early 1800's. The informative text explains in detail what each picture contains and what has changed in each view from the days of Canaletto up till 1971 (the date of the book's publication --no problem, since it's pretty much the same today.) My only "but" is that if you are expecting to see Canletto's color paintings, you may be disappointed. The book is actually engravings! by Visentini, a contemporary of Canaletto, who based them on the latter's paintings. If that's OK with you, then I'm sure anyone who enjoys Venice will find this book as delightful as I do.

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Canaletto
W.G. Constable
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198173245

Canaletto: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)

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Canaletto: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)
Christopher Baker
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Canaletto
Views of Venice
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Constable: Colour Library
Whistler: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)

ASIN: 0714832499

Canaletto and the Case of the Westminster Bridge

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A Bridge That's Not Too Far!
A very fine Georgian historical mystery

Canaletto and the Case of the Westminster Bridge
Janet Laurence
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312185510

Customer Reviews:

A Bridge That's Not Too Far!.......1999-03-04

For lovers of historical mysteries, Janet Laurence's "Canaletto and the Case of the Westminster Bridge" will be a welcomed addition. For readers who are looking for intriguing suspense, intense plots, clever developments, thought-provoking incidents, and multi-dimensional characters, then this book may be a disappointment. Laurence introduces us to Canaletto, the famed Venetian artist of the eighteenth century, who arrives in England with his personal fortune (he's been told that it is the correct time to make a "killing" (as it were!) by directly investing in English ventures) and his desire to "paint" London. Upon his arrival at the docks, he is nearly killed by a ruffian. Enter Fanny Rooker, who just happens to be meeting the boat. She saves his life twice early on in this book. Fanny is a rather nondescript young woman who has troubles of her own; she is an aspiring artist and is "framed" on a trumped up charge of theft. The two "down and outers" form a team that provides Laurence with her problem solving modus operandi. (Laurence does not permit this relationship to develop into anything romantic, although apparently Canaletto in reality was indeed quite the lady's man, the author hints.) Thus the plot thickens and we find Canaletto, basically, sans fortune and unlikely to find any painting commissions. His woes continue, but William Pitt gives him an offer the Italian cannot refuse--to help Pitt and the English government uncover the fraud that is keeping the newly commissioned Westminster Bridge from being completed, at least on time. Canaletto is instructed to leave no stone unturned in investigating the problems that have arisen from the quarry that provides the material for the bridge. He canvasses closely the usual suspects and with his keen eyes and excellent perspective, solves the case and, well, you get the "picture." Laurence does a very good job of providing us with a good sense of eighteenth century London. Her usage of Canaletto as a fictionalized private investigator not only is incredibly interesting but is also clever. (It does bring to question just which famous historical figure will be next: after all, other authors have already used Ben Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, King Tut, Jane Austen, to name a few to solve fictionalized crimes.) Included in the book are the usual duels, melodramatic romantic interests, and coincidental twists--all in keeping with period writing, of course, as she manages to capture the flair of the time, not only in writing style but in the landscape and atmosphere she portrays. Having Canaletto speak pidgin English sometimes gets in the way (Laurence should transcend the language barrier and simply have him speak naturally!) and (in what is hoped to be the beginning of a series!) developing her characters more fully will indeed enhance her story. The author is credited with "several cookbooks and is also the author of (a) successful culinary mystery series" (now that's food for thought!), according to the book's liner jacket information. Despite the above limitations, the book is heartily recommended. It is a good read; it is an absorbing read. Don't miss it!

A very fine Georgian historical mystery.......1998-06-23

In 1746, Venetian artist Canaletto has arrived in London seeking fresh fame and fortune. However, his arrival is not met with cheers. In fact, he deliberately singled out for assault and robbery twice. Both times he is rescued by neophyte painter Fanny Rooker. Unbeknownst to the talented landscape artist, there are many locally ambitious individuals who do not desire to have an expatriate Italian inadvertently interfere with their plans to obtain wealth by any means necessary. When his contact fails to meet him, Fanny and her sibling allow Canaletto to stay in their home.

Soon Paymaster General William Pitt asks Canaletto to look into why the construction of the Westminster Bridge is running behind schedule, has opposition that is very vocal and the project is stuck with outrageous cost overruns. Canaletto goes out to paint the bridge only find an even grimmer mystery waiting to confront him.

CANALETTO AND THE CASE OF THE WESTMINISTER BRIDGE is a great debut of a new historical mystery series by the ultra-talented Janet Lawrence, author of the highly regard Lisle culinary mysteries. Canaletto is a superb character and eighteenth century London is a wonderful setting as is an era where capitalism is fighting to gain a foothold. However, what makes Ms. Lawrence's novel a reading-gourmand's delight is the various ensemble of the people who made up Georgian London.

Harriet Klausner

Bronze & Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Bronze & Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Oscar W. Muscarella , and Katharine Baetjer
Manufacturer: Metropolitan Museum of Art New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0870995596

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