The Church of the Redentore, Venice

Canaletto 1697 - 1768

Summary

The Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore (Church of the Most Holy Redeemer) was commissioned by the Venetian Senate as an offering of gratitude for the end of the plague in 1576. Its architect was Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), whose interpretation of classical architecture would have a profound and enduring influence on architecture across Europe. The church stands on the Giudecca, a narrow island to the south of the city. The building to the right is the Church of San Giacomo, which was demolished in the 19th century. This view across the Grand Canal was painted in about 1740 by the great Venetian view painter, Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto. Venice was one of the pre-eminent Grand Tour destinations, along with Rome, Florence and Naples, and many foreign tourists purchased Canaletto's vedute (views) as souvenirs. The artist established a particularly profitable relationship with Joseph Smith, the British Consul in Venice, who secured him commissions and print sales. His great popularity with the British encouraged him to spend the years 1746-1756 in London.

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Grand Tour and Grand Style The Influence of Travel Improvements in European travel during the 1700s had a wide-ranging impact on British culture. A particularly significant influence was the Grand Tour, which became almost obligatory for young gentlemen. Grand Tourists were led across Europe by tutors to study art, history and politics for two or three years. The Grand Tour focused on Italy, particularly Rome, and often incorporated new archaeological sites such as those at Herculaneum and Pompei, near Naples. Ancient antiquities were heavily trafficked across Europe and continental works of art flooded into Britain. A period of especially active collecting took place between the end of the Seven Years War in 1763 and the rise of Napoleon in the 1790s. As more artists and designers also visited the continent their work became increasingly informed by travel. The serious themes of classical antiquity and European art led to a new departure in painting called the Grand Style. This championed classical, historical or literary subjects, and inspired radical changes in portraiture and landscape. Widespread interest in Greek and Roman remains also fostered fresh interpretations of ancient designs by pioneers of decorative art such as Josiah Wedgwood.