Martín Rico y Ortega Spanish, 1833-1908

Original canvas. There are some pinhead size dots of retouching in the sky visible under ultraviolet light otherwise the work is in good overall condition. Held in a plaster moulded gilt frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Rico's oeuvre celebrates Venice's elegant architecture and magical urban setting, and is recognised for its focus on the grand facades of the city's most majestic structures of the Grand Canal and its surrounding waterways. The present panoramic view, looking towards Venice from the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, epitomises Rico's Venetian panoramas.

Rico first travelled to Italy in 1872 in the company of the Spanish painter Mariano Fortuny. His fascination with light led Rico to Venice where he painted numerous luminous cityscapes. He exhibited over sixteen Venetian views at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878 to great acclaim, winning a prize and the cross of the Legion of Honour.

The financial success of his Venetian views at the Exposition Universelle enabled Rico to spend every summer in Venice thereafter, where he would rent a palazzo and work from a floating studio installed on a gondola, sketching the buildings and bridges as seen from the water.