View of the Isles of San Michele, San Cristoforo and Murano, from the Fondamenta Nuove, C.1725-28By Canaletto

Canaletto (1697 – 1768) was the 18th century’s most prominent view-painter, whose work embodied grandiose yet delicately misty images emphasizing iconic Italian buildings. Born Giovanni Antonio Canal, Canaletto began his artistic career painting theatrical scenery, but became enamored with topography during a visit to Rome. The Italian artist was an unsurpassed architectural painter of mythically lit, dramatic scenes of Venice, whose accuracy was aided by his use of the camera obscura—the precursor of modern cameras. Canaletto's magnificent paintings gave him international fame, and eternally transformed the world’s perception of Venice.