Venice: Campo S. Vidal and Santa Maria della Carità ('The Stonemason's Yard')
| Support Type: | Canvas |
| Paint Type: | Oil Paint |
| Current Location: | The National Gallery, London |
| Location History: | The artwork was in the collection of Sir George Beaumont in London by June 1808 and was later moved to Coleorton Hall in Leicester. In 1823, Sir George Beaumont deposited the painting at the British Museum on behalf of the future National Gallery. When the National Gallery was formally established, the work was transferred to its collection in 1828, where it remains today. |
‘The Stonemason’s Yard’ captures the early morning view at Campo San Vidal, a historic square in Venice, Italy. During the making of the painting, the square was transformed into a temporary workshop for the restoration of a nearby church. And Canaletto has depicted the place with stonemasons chiseling stone pieces, which are scattered all around and will be further used for the restoration work. On the right, Canaletto has included the church of Santa Maria della Carità and its bell tower, but only its upper portion is visible beyond the surrounding buildings. The artist has documented everyday activities around the stonemasons, such as a woman rushing to comfort her child who has fallen backwards and a woman watching this scene from her balcony above. Further, the artist has shown the Grand Canal beyond the square, but it is less grand than the conventional portrayal of the canal in his other works. The canal here is shown with gondoliers standing on the boats as they wait for their first passengers of the day and a boat sailing through the water. The early morning view is captured in intricate detail by the use of sunlight, which highlights masons’ tools and casts shadows, which creates a sense of depth in the architecture. The painting is considered one of Canaletto’s best works in the early period, and the use of bold composition, heavy application of colour, and depiction of individualised figures are all characteristics of Canaletto’s artistic style.