Bernardo Bellotto: 9 works

'In this architectural record of Venice and the Grand Canal, Bellotto presented a cross-section of Venetian society going about business on a sunny morning.'

'For many years Antonio Canal, aka Canaletto (1697-- 1768) was considered the painter behind the marvellous veduta of the promenade on the banks of the Tiber in Rome as well as views of Vienna in this Collection, but these are now attributed to his pupil and nephew B. Bellotto, equally known as Canaletto.'

'In the National Gallery of Victoria's painting, Bellotto contrasts the ancient ruins with the formidable presence of Michelangelo's bell tower for the Senatorial Palace on the Capitoline Hill, and with the comings and goings of daily life in Rome, including the eager 'Grand Tourists' playfully examining the monuments.'

'Yet while the uncle incessantly painted the familiar corners of Venice (a decade in London aside), Bellotto became a chronicler of the whole of Europe, from Rome to Vienna, from Dresden to Warsaw.'

'These depict palaces (Schönbrunn and Schlosshof ) as well as urban scenes.Bellotto's stay in Vienna is framed by his departure from Dresden in December 1758 and his arrival in Munich in January 1761.'

'This is the moment captured by Venice-born painter Bernardo Bellotto, who had been working since 1747 for the art-loving Elector of Saxony Friedrich August II. Bellotto also created a series of views of Dresden, his patron's residential seat.'

'This painting by Bellotto is possibly the finest existing veduta of Enlightenment-era Warsaw, not only on account of the broad field of view and its accurate rendition of the numerous structures it depicts but also for purely artistic reasons.'

'Before they returned to their place after the Castle's reconstruction, the fate of Bellotto's outstanding works was rather turbulent.'

'The second work by Bernardo Bellotto from our collection, the Holy Cross Church, depicts the view of Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, the principal and hallmark route in Warsaw at that time.'