Biography of Canaletto

7 October 1697
19 April 1768
Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, the painter who was able to give to the international landscape painting a cut enough to be appreciated throughout the world. The nickname "Canaletto" occurs from 1726 in letters, but is from 1740 that uses it for good. Canaletto was born in Venice on 17 December 1697 in the parish of San Lio from a Venetian family of the bourgeoisie. The Father Bernardo has a painting studio of stage sets.
Right here with his brother Christopher learns the basics and learn to paint stage decorations for the staging of plays in Venice. Canaletto in 1718-1720, together with his father and brother, he moved to Rome to perform scenes from two plays by Alessandro Scarlatti. This trip is important because it makes contact with the landscape painting: Viviano Codazzi and Giovanni Ghisolfi with painting of ruins, Sweerts, Van Lear, Miel, Cequozzi, Giovanni Paolo Panini with fantastic views of Roman Antiquities and Gaspar Van Wittel to the Dutch landscape painting. Returning to Venice, Canaletto take relations with the city's landscape painters like Luca Carlevarijs and Marco Rossi starting to paint full time.
Between 1722 and 1723 works for the future Consul and patron English Joseph Smith with jobs going to embellish the residences in England. In the period 1725-1726 is hired by Irish impresario Owen McSwiney. From here on out contact with the English-speaking world is critical to Canaletto's Venetian Rococo direction in the environment, both for the new market. In the 1930s the first mediators with Britain McSwiney and Anton Maria Zanetti old are replaced by Joseph Smith exclusively. The subjects painted passing from views of San Marco, Rialto Canal in whims with Roman ruins, hills and vistas. War of the Austrian succession from 1740 to Canaletto's market shrinks due to non-arrival of the English visitors, so in 1746 decides to go to London with a letter of introduction to the Duke of Richmond, already a client of the master. However, two ads in the Daily Adversiter dispel the initial diffidence.
Passed this stage include many noble requiring new commissions to Canaletto. The subjects become those of the castles, palaces, the countryside and the urban scenes. The English stay after two brief returns to his homeland ended in 1755 with the final return to Venice. The last years are crowned by the German merchant Sigismund Streit. The subject that characterizes this stage is the whim. In 1763 Canaletto Venetian painting and sculpture is accepted into the Academy. Died at his home in corte Perina near San Lio Church on the evening of 19 April 1768.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.