Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

William James
Grand Canal in Venice from Campo San Vio by William James

Mid-18th century

$148,500
£111,002.21
€129,524.12
CA$208,524.20
A$212,113.14
CHF 121,119.65
MX$2,565,625.22
NOK 1,412,318.70
SEK 1,433,958.16
DKK 968,287.73

About the Item

William James Fl. 1754-1771 British View of the Grand Canal, Venice, looking east from Campo San Vio towards the Dogana and the Bacino di San Marco Oil on canvas The legendary Venetian Grand Canal is the subject of this brilliantly hued scene by 18th-century British artist William James. His meticulously detailed canvases earned him recognition among the leading painters of Venetian views in his day. Here, he renders the vista from Campo San Vio toward the Riva degli Schiavoni with assured technical mastery. Every element is carefully orchestrated, from the stately 16th-century Palazzo Barbarigo to the lively figures that animate the foreground. Like many of James’ compositions, this work draws inspiration from a comparable view by Canaletto, whose Grand Canal scene from San Vio (circa 1723–24) is now in the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. James adopts a similar vantage point and even echoes select figures, including the maiden at the balcony in the upper right. Yet where Canaletto favored restrained browns, tans and cool blues, James enlivens the architecture with a more vivid palette of crimson and deep orange. The effect is less strictly naturalistic but strikingly radiant, underscoring the artist’s distinctive interpretation of Venice. Active in London between 1754 and 1771, William James remains a somewhat elusive figure. He was a pupil of the great Venetian master Canaletto, likely assisting in his studio during the artist’s visit to England in 1754. Canaletto’s influence is evident in James’ exceptional Venetian views. Such scenes were immensely popular in the later 18th century, as increasing numbers of British gentlemen embarked on the Grand Tour and sought painted souvenirs of Italy’s splendors. James capitalized on this demand, producing accomplished views that earned him recognition in London. He exhibited at the Society of Artists of Great Britain from 1761 to 1768 and at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1769 to 1771, and was elected a member of the Society of Artists in 1766. Today, his works are held in prestigious collections, including the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace. Mid-18th century Canvas: 19 7/8" high x 34" wide (50.48 x 86.36 cm) Frame: 25 1/2" high x 39 5/8" wide x 2 1/2" deep (64.77 x 100.65 x 6.35 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, England M.S. Rau, New Orleans Private Collection, Florida M.S. Rau, New Orleans
  • Creator:
    William James (1882 - 1961, American)
  • Creation Year:
    Mid-18th century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    New Orleans, LA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 32-22971stDibs: LU18618090282

More From This Seller

View All
View of the Grand Canal by William James

View of the Grand Canal by William James

By William James

Located in New Orleans, LA

William James Fl. 1754-1771 British View of the Grand Canal, Venice, with San Geremia and the Entrance to the Cannaregio Oil on canvas This luminous Venetian scene was painted...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Venetian Scene by Martin Rico y Ortega

Venetian Scene by Martin Rico y Ortega

By Martin Rico y Ortega

Located in New Orleans, LA

Martin Rico y Ortega 1833-1908 Spanish Venetian Scene Signed "Rico" (lower left) Oil on canvas Spanish artist Martin Rico y Ortega captures a charming view of a canal in Venice ...

Category

19th Century Academic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Trinité des Monts, Paris by Jean-François Raffaëlli

Trinité des Monts, Paris by Jean-François Raffaëlli

By Jean-Francois Raffaelli

Located in New Orleans, LA

Jean-François Raffaëlli 1850-1924 French Trinité des Monts, Paris Signed "JF Raffaëlli" (lower right) Oil on canvas Alive with movement and modern elegance, Trinité des Monts, Pa...

Category

19th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Concours de Chiens au Promenade by Otto Eerelman

Concours de Chiens au Promenade by Otto Eerelman

By Otto Eerelman

Located in New Orleans, LA

Otto Eerelman 1839-1926 Dutch Concours de Chiens au Promenade Watercolor on paper Signed “O. Eerelman 1904” (lower left) A tour de force watercolor by celebrated Dutch artist Otto Eerelman, one of 19th-century Europe's most popular and important animal portraitists, this charming composition captures a bustling cross-section of fashionable elites walking their equally fashionable canine companions. Eerleman takes care to render the detailed attire of his subjects, complete with plumed hats and layers of lace trim. The artist paints the plethora of pets in equally painstaking detail, capturing the nuances of each different breed represented. Eerelman mastered the art of depicting not only the dogs’ physical characteristics but also their unique expressions and personalities. His wealthy clientele would bring their pets to his home in The Hague where they would live for a period of time while having their portraits done, allowing for a remarkably true-to-life portrayal. This energetic watercolor, with its profusion of color and texture, harnesses the affluence of its subjects and the leisurely whimsy of their luxurious lives. Hailing from Groningen, Netherlands, Eerelman was dubbed the “Northern Rembrandt” during his lifetime. He received his artistic training at the Academy Minerva in Groningen, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and then private lessons in the studio of the great Lawrence Alma Tadema. He successfully captured the attention of the Dutch court, particularly Princess Wilhelmina...

Category

Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port by Yvonne Canu

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port by Yvonne Canu

By Yvonne Canu

Located in New Orleans, LA

Yvonne Canu 1921-2008 French Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Signed "Canu" (lower right) Signed and titled "Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port" (en verso) Oil on canvas A luminous testament to the ...

Category

20th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Large 19th Century Oil Painting of the Grand Canal & St. Marks Venice Canaletto

Large 19th Century Oil Painting of the Grand Canal & St. Marks Venice Canaletto

By Edward Pritchett

Located in Gerrards Cross, GB

‘The Grand Canal from St. Mark’s, Venice’ by Edward Pritchett RWS (1807-1876). The painting hangs in a superb gilded and sgraffito carved exhibition frame bearing insignias of the Li...

Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Grand Canal, Venice

The Grand Canal, Venice

By Elias S. Mandel Grossman

Located in Middletown, NY

1926. Etching in sepia ink on Japon paper, 9 5/8 x 11 1/2 inches (245 x 292 mm), full margins with the lower margin slightly notched. Signed, titled and dated in pencil in the lower ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Landscape Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Etching

Venise Oil Painting of Venetian Canal Scene, Signed, Late 19th Century

Venise Oil Painting of Venetian Canal Scene, Signed, Late 19th Century

By Carlo Brancaccio

Located in Genève, GE

This oil on canvas depicts a lively Venetian canal scene and is signed Brancaccio in the lower right. The composition features elegant palatial façades with arcaded architecture lining the canal, their warm tones softly reflected in the rippling water. Several gondolas animate the foreground, guided by gondoliers and occupied by figures, creating a sense of movement and daily life within the historic city. The artist employs a rich, subdued palette dominated by deep greens, umbers, and ochres, evoking a twilight atmosphere characteristic of romantic Venetian views. Particular attention is given to the treatment of water and reflections, demonstrating confident brushwork and a strong understanding of light and architectural perspective. This painting belongs to the tradition of Venetian vedute from the late 19th to early 20th century, a genre long admired by collectors for its timeless portrayal of Venice’s poetic and architectural heritage. Both decorative and evocative, the work is well suited for a refined interior or a collection of European or Italian paintings. • Venetian canal oil painting • Antique Venice painting...

Category

Late 19th Century Italian School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

19th Century oil painting of The Grand Canal Venice towards St Marks Square

19th Century oil painting of The Grand Canal Venice towards St Marks Square

By Alfred Pollentine

Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire

Alfred Pollentine British, (1844-1910) The Grand Canal looking towards St Marks Square & the Doge’s Palace, Venice Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 19.25 inches x 29.25 inches Size including frame: 25.25 inches x 35.25 inches A wonderful view of the Grand Canal featuring the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Square, Venice by Alfred Pollentine. The scene shows the entrance to the Grand Canal with the Santa Maria Della Salute with its distinctive rotunda and the Dogana to the left. Ahead can be seen the bell tower of St Mark’s with the Doges palace to its right. Alfred William Pollentine was born in St Pancras, London on 26 August 1844, the son of William Pollentine, a carver gilder and picture dealer and Caroline Smith. After the death of his father in 1856, his mother married the artist Adam Barland...

Category

19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Venecia" Scene of Venetian Canals

"Venecia" Scene of Venetian Canals

By Bartolome Sastre

Located in Austin, TX

"Venecia" Artist: Bartolome Sastre Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 57.5 x 45

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil