Federico del Campo

Richard Green, London

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting is in very good condition. It has recently been restored and should be hung as is. There is no restoration of note to the paint layer and even the most intricate details throughout seem to have survived the passage of time perfectly. It does not appear that the canvas is lined but the tacking edges may have been reinforced.
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Federico del Campo was one of the finest late-nineteenth century Venetian scene painters. Building on a rich tradition of depictions of the romantic lagoon city, his work is a physical manifestation Venice's popular moniker as the "City of Light." In The Grand Canal, Venice, del Campo captures the crystalline clarity of a bright afternoon; the sunlight sparkles across the intricate façade of the gothic style Doge's Palace, and reflects off the polished domes of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in the distance.  The scene is populated by a distinctive cross-section of Venetian culture; two working women rest in the foreground, and their male counterparts mill about on docked gondolas, while fashionable ladies stroll along the water, protected by both their parasols and their dapper escorts.  With superior technical skill and a remarkable sense of perspective, del Campo ties together these individual vignettes, nestling them in the ultimate, and most impressive, character in this stunning scene: the spectacular Venetian architecture. Set off against the azure blue sky and waters, this incredible snapshot of Venice establishes del Campo as ones of the city's most devoted and talented scribes.