Related external works: Bears relation to

Architectural capriccio, with reminiscences of Richmond House, London, Inv. E.3791-1934

Capriccio with Reminiscences of Westminster Bridge and Richmond House, ca. 1755 – 1760

Blatt: min. 237 x 377 mm
maximum height: 240 mm

Physical Description: Pen and brown ink and brush in grey over traces of grey chalk, wash, framing line in pen and brown ink, remains of another framing line in black at margins, on laid paper

Inventory Number: 459

Object Number: 459 Z

Status: Can be presented in the study room of the Graphische Sammlung (special opening hours)

Texts

About the Work

Canaletto selected several buildings from the topography of London, assembled them in a new composition and enhanced them with Italian motifs such as the portal decorated with three statues or the statue on the high pedestal. The loggia also serves purely decorative purposes, since it possesses neither a door nor a passageway to the house behind it. A work that looks like a veduta at first sight is thus in reality a richly atmospheric capriccio with Italianized motifs of London. The meticulous execution, the multi-coloured wash, and above all the signature on the back are clear indications that the drawing was intended for sale.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Capriccio with Reminiscences of Westminster Bridge and Richmond House

Draughtsman

Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal)

Period Produced

18th century

School

Object Type

drawing

Physical Description: Pen and brown ink and brush in grey over traces of grey chalk, wash, framing line in pen and brown ink, remains of another framing line in black at margins, on laid paper

Material

Technique

Geographic Reference

Venetian

Production Reason

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Verso signiert (mit der Feder in Braun): Io Zuane Antonio da Canal, detto il Canaletto, feci il detto dissegnio

Captions Added Later: Verso unten links Stempel des Städelschen Kunstinstituts, Frankfurt am Main (Lugt 2356), mit zugehöriger Inventarnummer

Watermark

IVILLEDARY, darüber IHS und Kreuz

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Department of Prints and Drawings

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

architecture

Main Motif

Iconclass

Primary

25I1 city-view in general; 'veduta'
41A11 palace
41A351 terrace
25I1451 bridge in city across river, canal, etc.

Secondary

25H213 river
46C24 sailing-ship, sailing-boat

Associative

61E(LONDON) names of cities and villages (LONDON)
61F(WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, LONDON) names of historical buildings, sites, streets, etc. (WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, LONDON)
61F(RICHMOND HOUSE) names of historical buildings, sites, streets, etc. (RICHMOND HOUSE)
61F(MONTAGU HOUSE, WHITEHALL) names of historical buildings, sites, streets, etc. (MONTAGU HOUSE, WHITEHALL)
61D(THAMES) geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (THAMES) (THAMES)