The Dogano, San Giorgio, Citella, from the Steps of the Europa by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851). Exhibited 1842. Oil on canvas, 616 x 927 mm. Courtesy of Tate Britain (Accession no. NO0372. Presented by Robert Vernon 1847) Click on image to enlarge it.
Commentary from Tate Britain Online (2010)
‘Venice was surely built to be painted by ... Turner’, wrote the critic of the Art Union when he first saw this work in 1842. Unlike his paintings of Rome, Turner’s impression of the city was not dominated by ancient ruins and the historical past. Instead he explored Venice’s unique combination of water, light and grand Renaissance architecture, all of which seem to blend together. Here he is transfixed by the spectacle of the churches of Santa Maria della Salute (modern photograph) and Santa Maria della Presentazione, known as the ‘Zitelle’ (or Citella), reflected in the waters of the Guidecca Canal.
See Tate Britain Online for full catalogue entry, including provenance, exhibition history, critical reception, and bibliography.
Some other Turnerian paintings of Venice
- Venice, the Piazzetta with the Ceremony of the Doge Marrying the Sea
- Venice Quay, Ducal Palace
- St Benedetto, Looking towards Fusina
- Venice — Maria della Salute
Last modified 15 May 2016