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Lot description
(Belluno 1809–1866 Lissa) Venice, Molo with a view of the Riva degli Schiavoni with the Palazzo Ducale and the columns of San Marco and San Todaro, signed Caffi, oil on canvas, 47.5 x 60 cm, framed Provenance: Acquired by the grandfather of the present owner; Private Collection, Italy. Ippolito Caffi was born in Belluno, but spent most of his life travelling throughout Italy and further afield to Egypt, Turkey and Greece. In 1832, when he was still a young man, he moved to Rome, where he quickly became successful as a vedutista. There, he painted the celebrated piazze and monuments of the Eternal City. In 1835, he published his treatise on perspective, "Lezione di prospettiva pratica", showcasing his mastery of both the theory and practice of spatial construction. Building upon the tradition established by Canaletto, Caffi modernised the genre of vedute. Throughout his career, he frequently travelled between Rome and Venice, where the present work was created. The composition captures the charm and atmospheric character of Venice. The scene opens onto the Molo and the entrance to the Piazzetta San Marco. To the left is the Doge’s Palace, which guides the viewer’s gaze along the broad promenade of the Riva degli Schiavoni, one of the city’s most recognisable areas. In the centre stand the two famous columns: the Column of San Marco, topped by the winged lion, and the Column of San Todaro. More than just a visual record of this important site, Caffi captures the vitality of Venetian life. The elongated shadows in the foreground suggest a late afternoon setting, and figures of Venetians strolling along the Riva bring the scene to life. Caffi’s paintings introduced a new approach to the tradition of vedute painting. His interest in the effects of light and atmosphere is immediately visible in the present painting.