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1742-1746
Painting
oil on canvas
67.5 x 119.0cm stretcher; 85.0 x 135.6 x 6.0cm frame
Gift of James Fairfax AO 1996
302.1996
Art Gallery of NSW, Ground Level, European Art 15th-18th Century Galleries, Fairfax Galleries/Room 3
Further information
Architectonic in construction and architectural in content, this magnificent 'venduta', or view, sparkles with the very light of Venice. This was subject matter tackled time and time again by Canaletto, probably with the aid of a 'camera obscura'; yet despite the artist's concern for accuracy, this painting is nowhere dull or perfunctory in its attention to detail. Having worked as a scenographic artist in the Italian perspectival tradition, and as the son of such an artist, Canaletto was ideally placed to become the greatest recorder of the physical glories of the city-state called 'La Serenissima'. This is not to say that the human glory of Venice is ignored. Canaletto, here as elsewhere, populated the Piazza with a dizzying and deliciously executed array of merchants, friars, wigged officials, masked revellers, mysterious women, children and dogs. If the majority of such views were intended for consumption by English and other tourists, this has not been to the detriment of their remarkable artistic quality.
AGNSW Handbook, 1999.
Provenance
James Oswald Fairfax AO (Australia, b.1933), 1987-Jun 1996, Bowral/New South Wales/Australia, Gift of James Fairfax 1996. Purchased by James Fairfax from Colnaghi, New York 1987. On formal loan to AGNSW from February 1988 - June 1996.
Colnaghi U.S.A. (United States of America), 1987, New York/New York/United States of America, Sold to James Fairfax 1987. Letters sent to Colnaghi's 17 October 2001, 15 May 2002 and 15 March 2003 asking for information on when and from whom they acquired the painting. No response.
Christie's London (England), 14 Apr 1978, London/England, lot no.32, 'Property of a gentleman' £90,000. Letter sent 8 April 2003 by Christie's London on behalf of the AGNSW to the UK address on their records of 1978 (no updated address available on system). June 2003 letter returned by post office 'addresse unknown'.
Leggatt Bros., London (England), 04 Jun 1928-1939, London/England, [dealer] Purchased by Leggatt Bros. from Arthur Tooth & Sons, 4 June 1928. Leggatt Bros. business records pre 1945 have been destroyed (information from C. Leggatt)
Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd (England), 13 Apr 1928-04 Jun 1928, London/England, Purchased by Arthur Tooth & Sons from H.J. Spiller, 13 April 1928. Tooth stock no. 8433. Sold to Leggatt Bros., 4 June 1928.
H.J. Spiller (England), pre 13 Apr 1928, London/England, [frame dealer]
Bibliography
Book; Great philanthropists on trial : the art of the bequest; Andrew Grimwade (Australia), Gerard Vaughan (Australia); 2006, 130, 'The James Fairfax collection' by Edmund Capon, pg.126-135
Exhibition catalogue; The James Fairfax collection of old master paintings, drawings and prints; Richard Beresford (England; Australia), Peter Raissis (Australia); 2003, 46-47 (colour illus.), 48-53, 49 (colour illus.), cat.no. 10, illustration on pages 46-47 are a detail
Catalogue raisonné; A supplement to W.G. Constable's Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal, 1697-1768; G.J. Links; 1998, 7, no. 49(c)
Periodical; Look; Jill Sykes (Australia); Apr 2003, 19 (colour illus.), 'Not only great art: fascinating stories discovered behind the works on show' by Richard Beresford, pg.18-21, illustration is a detail
General/Book; Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook; Bruce James (Australia), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940); 1999, 30 (colour illus.), 'Western Collection: Paintings and Sculpture' by Bruce James, pg. 17-77.
Annual report; Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 1996; Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874); 1996, 9 (colour illus.), 52
Exhibition catalogue; Luca Carlevarijs: e la veduta veneziana del Settecento; Palazzo della ragione, Padua (Italy); 1994, 28 (illus.), 29, fig. 7
Exhibition catalogue; The James Fairfax collection of old masters; Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874); 1992, no catalogue numbers
Catalogue raisonné; Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal 1697-1768, 2nd edition, reissued; W.G. Constable; 1989, vol. 2, 207, 727, no. 49(c) Reprint of the 2nd revised edition published in 1976, now reissued with supplement and additional plates
Periodical; Apollo; Editor Unknown; Mar 1978, 23 (illus.)
Catalogue raisonné; Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal 1697-1768, 2nd edition; W.G. Constable; 1976, vol. 2, 207, no. 49(c) 2nd edition revised by J.G. Links
Catalogue raisonné; Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal 1697-1768; W.G. Constable; 1962, vol. 2, 202, no. 49(c)
Exhibition venue
Title: The James Fairfax collection of old master paintings, drawings and prints
Venue: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Opening: 17 Apr 2003
Closing: 20 Jul 2003
Curator: Beresford, Richard
Raissis, Peter
Title: The James Fairfax collection of old masters
Venue: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Opening: 25 Apr 1992
Closing: 14 Jun 1992
Curator: Free, Renée
Capon, Edmund
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