CIRCLE OF GIOVANNI ANTONIO CANAL, CALLED CANALETTO | VIEW OF THE MOLO FROM THE BACINO DI SAN MARCO, THE ZECCA AT LEFT AND PALAZZO DUCALE AT RIGHT

This is a period derivation of Canaletto's view from the same position, formerly in the Medici collection at Poggio Imperiale, today in the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. 1334). Canaletto's painting was likely based on a drawing at Windsor Castle, dateable to 1755 due to the stage of construction of the Torre d'Orologico (7451: no. 642). This particular viewpoint was a popular one as it allows the artist to include several of the important buildings surrounding Piazza San Marco.

The present lot includes an extra bay and arch on the Zecca in the left background as well as more of the houses to the far right on the Riva degli Schiavoni than does Canaletto's version. Most noticeable are 2 additional figures: the woman in blue facing toward the right in the lower left gondola, and the man standing in the prow of the boat at far right holding onto the cask. The brushwork on these figures appears different than the rest of the painting, suggesting they may have been later additions, and that the original composition was even closer to Canaletto's original.