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EXHIBITION

Canaletto and the Art of Venice

Details of gondola on a Venice canal
This exhibition is in the past. View our current exhibitions.
  • This event is in the past
    Daily (Friday 19 May 2017 - Sunday 12 Nov 2017)

The Royal Collection contains the world's finest group of paintings, drawings and prints by Venice's most famous view-painter, Canaletto (1697-1768). These works were bought by the young George III in 1762 from Canaletto's agent and dealer Joseph Smith, British Consul in Venice, along with the rest of Smith's huge collection.

The exhibition presents a spectacular selection of eighteenth-century Venetian art, with Canaletto's greatest works shown alongside paintings and works on paper by Sebastiano and Marco Ricci, Francesco Zuccarelli, Rosalba Carriera, Pietro Longhi and Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. The exhibition explores the many delights of eighteenth-century Venice, from the splendours of the Grand Canal and St Mark's Square to its festivals, theatre and masked carnival, bringing the irresistible allure of the most beautiful city in the world to The Queen's Gallery.

This film introduces Canaletto and Consul Smith, and some of the themes of the exhibition.

Highlight objects

    Schools sessions

    Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4, key stage 5
    A Grand Tour of Venice - A Creative Writing workshop

    The many possibilities for inspiring Creative Writing from works of art, compared to more familiar sources such as books and the internet

    Key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4
    How do you create a Landscape?

    Examine the techniques and skills used by Canaletto and other artists featured in Canaletto & the Art of Venice to produce these fine examples of landscapes

    Key stage 1
    On a Grand Tour - a drama workshop

    In this exciting drama session children plan an imaginary trip to Venice to choose a painting for The Queen


    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.