Grand Canal, Venice

Grand Canal, Venice from 1826 was painted during Bonington's Italian tour, one of the seminal journeys of the Romantic era in painting. His Venetian works captured the city's architectural splendor and unique light with a freshness that influenced generations of painters, from Turner to the Impressionists. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays luminous, atmospheric color applied with the freshness of watercolor in oil painting, alla prima technique that captured the transience of light on water and architecture.

Brilliant color and fluid brushwork capture the play of light on Venetian architecture and water, the reflections rendered with spontaneous touches that convey the shimmering quality of the lagoon atmosphere.