The Arrival of the 4th Earl of Manchester in Venice in 1707

Carlevarijs is considered to be largely responsible for establishing the style of Venetian view painting for which artists like Canaletto would later become famous. His pictures combine wide vistas, sparkling light and bustling crowds.

This painting commemorated a visit by the British Ambassador Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester, to Venice in 1707. He is almost lost among the throng of spectators, boatmen and revellers in carnival costume but he can just be seen in a blue coat being welcomed by dignitaries as he steps off a gondola on the quay.

Paintings like this celebrated the grandeur of the Venetian Republic and its role on the world stage, though in reality the city was in decline.