Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Life and Art: Venice

When I visited Venice a few years ago, I fell in love at first glance. The buildings seemed to float on opaque turquoise canals, and it was immediately apparent why Venice is known as La Serenissima ("the most serene"). The city was especially quiet since it was the middle of winter. Summer throngs were months away, and light snow dusted the three bridges that cross the Grand Canal.

Maurice Prendergast, Grand Canal, Venice, ca. 1898-99
A somewhat unexpected new love that I encountered in Venice, aside from the city itself, was the work of the Canadian-American painter Maurice Prendergast. The Peggy Guggeheim Collection (Ms. Guggenheim warrants her own post at a later date.) held a relatively small, but vibrant and captivating, exhibit of Prendergast's paintings of Italy. Included in these were lovely odes to La Serenissima, its canals, and its people.

Combing through my travel photos, I found themes similar to those depicted by Mr. Prendergast and his contemporaries: 

Right: Maurice Prendergast, Venetian Palaces on the Grand Canal, 1899
Right: John Singer Sargent, Palazzo Labia and San Geremia Venice, 1913

Right: Frits Thaulow, On the Grand Canal, Venice, 1885
 Have you been to Venice? Have you ever found a favorite artist or painting while on vacation?

3 comments:

  1. The light is amazing in Venice. I love your blog. Have been reading, Half the Sky, and thinking about you and your earlier work. xox NL

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  2. Hi! :) I'm glad you're enjoying the blog so far. The light in Venice is fantastic, isn't it? Thanks for your sweet thoughts. Love to you and W. xox

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  3. Thank you for sharing this beautiful art! You are such a talented writer!

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