Venetian Canal

John Singer Sargent

1913 · Watercolor and graphite on off-white wove paper · The American Wing

Like many of his contemporaries, Sargent was captivated by Venice and visited the city frequently between 1898 and 1913. For the focal point of this watercolor, he chose the relatively obscure yet scenic eleventh-century tower of the Church of San Barnaba. He positioned himself close to the water, as if in a gondola, to present a view looking down the Rio de San Barnaba toward the Grand Canal. Sargent’s watercolors are admired for their fluid spontaneity, evident here in his rendering of the rippling water of the canal as it reflects the nearby architecture and bright sunlight. One contemporary critic celebrated Sargent’s powers of observation and representation when discussing this watercolor, explaining, "His sensitive faculties rejoice in the magic of Italian form and color."

Artist

John Singer Sargent

Date

1913

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on off-white wove paper

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1915