From the Workshop of Canaletto - The Rediscovery of a Masterpiece

12th March 2025 – The great beauty captured in an unforgettable moment – La grande bellezza immortalata in un istante imperdibile

On Wednesday, 12th March, Fondazione Invernizzi hosted an exclusive event dedicated to the presentation of the painting “Santa Maria della Salute and the Dogana from Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo”, a piece of extraordinary precision and light strength, attributed to the Workshop of Canaletto.

The conference, held at the Conference Centre of Palazzo Invernizzi and led by Professors Simone Ferrari and Alberto Cottino, offered an in-depth interpretation of the painting, pointing out its meticulous details and exceptional handling of light, which are hallmarks of Canaletto’s style.

As Professor Simone Ferrari explained, “This is the recreation of a magical Venice: theatre, scenography, celebration, ritual, and the collective participation in the life of the Serenissima”. This interpretation clearly emerges from the liveliness of the figures and the luminous harmony that envelops the scene.

Professor Alberto Cottino emphasized the importance of observing the painting up close: ““Canaletto is a painter to be discovered through details”. It is precisely in these small elements that the artist’s extraordinary narrative power is revealed, such as “the ladies peeking out from a window” or “the man leaning over the Grand Canal”. These details transform the painting into a true visual tale of 18th-century Venetian life.

The professors offered a heartfelt invitation to take the sufficient time to get lost in the painting’s radiant wonder: in the reflections on the water, the architectural details, and the figures of the era, all of which vividly express the energy and bustle of daily life.

The event was a unique opportunity to rediscover a masterpiece that now shines once more, telling the story of La Serenissima through the eyes of one of the greatest masters of Vedutismo.