The Grand Canal In Venice, Attributed To The Master Of The Langmatt Foundation Views

The Master of the Views of the Langmatt Foundation (attributed to)
(Attributed to Apollonio Domenichini, known as il Meneghetti, active in Venice, 1715-1770)

“The Grand Canal in Venice, with the Palazzo Balbi”
The Palazzo Balbi on the Grand Canal from the Moro Lin Palace, the Ca' Foscari on the left

Oil on canvas,
52 x 84 cm

Provenance: Leonard Koetser, London, 1915.

Sale at Christie's, South Kensington, 9 July 2004, lot 205

This work depicts an iconic view of the Grand Canal in Venice, dominated by the sumptuous Palazzo Balbi.
The elegant gondolas, the sparkling reflections on the water and the meticulous architectural details immerse the viewer in the excitement of 18th-century Venice.

The artist manages to capture a soft light that highlights the Baroque façades and accentuates the dreamlike atmosphere of the Serenissima.

Stylistic and symbolic analysis

The painting illustrates the precise and refined style of Apollonio Domenichini, often identified as the Master of the Langmatt Foundation Views.
Inspired by Canaletto, Domenichini is distinguished by a meticulous treatment of perspectives and plays of light, giving a poetic dimension to his representations of Venice.

The work also reflects the symbolic importance of the city.
The Grand Canal, Venice's main artery, is presented here as a place of life and exchange, while the Palazzo Balbi evokes the splendor and power of the Venetian nobility.
This type of view met the demand of wealthy European art lovers who wanted to immortalize their memories of the Grand Tour.


Biography of the artist

Apollonio Domenichini, nicknamed il Meneghetti, is a Venetian painter active in the 18th century.
His name is mainly associated with the art historian Rodolfo Pallucchini, who identified him as the Master of the Langmatt Foundation Views thanks to his extensive research on Venetian vedutisti.
Pallucchini, in his work
La Pittura Veneziana del Settecento (1950), attributed several views of Venice to Domenichini, highlighting his talent for capturing urban scenes with precision and sensitivity.


Significant and museum works

View of the Grand Canal with the Church of the Salute, Langmatt Foundation, Baden, Switzerland
Piazza San Marco with the Campanile, private collection
View of Venice with the Rialto Bridge, Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich
Scenes from the Venetian Lagoon, various international collections

These works are characterized by a subtle luminosity and architectural rigor, offering an idealized but faithful vision of Venetian life.


Museum references

Langmatt Foundation, Baden, Switzerland
Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museum, Madrid


Bibliography

Pallucchini, R. La Pittura Veneziana del Settecento. Venice: Neri Pozza, 1950.
Constable, J. Canaletto and the Venetian Vedutisti. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962.
Links, J. G. Venetian Views, Architectural Fantasies. London: Phaidon, 1998.
Succi, D. Vedutisti Veneziani del Settecento. Milan: Skira, 2001.