plan of St. Marco in Venice 1740

This plan of St. Marco in Venice, painted in 1749, reflects the influence of Canaletto on Scott's work during the years when the Venetian master was active in London. Scott never visited Venice himself, and this Venetian subject may have been painted in direct emulation of or competition with Canaletto, adapting the Italian's compositions from prints or direct acquaintance with his studio works. Samuel Scott occupied the commanding position in British marine and topographical painting for three decades, filling the gap left by the death of the van de Veldes and not finally superseded until the emergence of Nicholas Pocock and J.M.W. Turner.

The Venetian subject is rendered with the architectural precision characteristic of the veduta tradition, though the lighting and atmospheric quality differ from Canaletto's characteristic clarity, reflecting Scott's English sensibility.