Vedutist of the Venetian school (active at the end of the 18th century) Animated view of Venice Under a cloudy sky, a wide view opens up of the Grand Canal with its magnificent buildings on the banks, bustling with numerous barges, fishing boats and gondolas, some of them heavily laden. On the right is the picturesque Doge's Palace with its campanile and the domes of St Mark's Basilica, while in the centre the viewer's gaze is drawn to the impressive backdrop of Santa Maria della Salute. A cheerful veduta, enlivened by rich staffage and composed in great detail, which perfectly captures the unique lighting mood of the picturesque lagoon city and thus continues the tradition of Venetian masters such as Giovanni Antonio Canal, gen. Canaletto (1697-1867), Francesco Guardi (1712-1793) and Bernardo Bellotto (1721-1780). The works of the protagonists of the Venetian school reflect the splendour of Venice, one of the most important stops on a Grand Tour, the cavalier journey undertaken by British aristocrats in particular in the 18th century. The demand for pictures of Venice grew steadily at the time and was satisfied by specialised veduta painters, the so-called vedutisti, sometimes also as prints or sequences for more widespread distribution. Oil on canvas, relined. Gallery label verso. 45 cm x 74 cm. Frame. Provenance: Kunsthaus Bühler, Stuttgart. Venetian painter active at the end of the 18th century. Oil on relined canvas. Gallery label on the reverse.