FDA-P.166-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.166-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
View of Venice
Description
Painted aerial (or bird's eye) view of Venice, including ships, buildings, gardens and figures
Comments
The vast birds-eye view of Venice is one of the largest surviving 17th-century depictions of the city. It is based on Jacopo de' Barbari's woodcut, the Map of Venice (1500), and is by Bologna-born painter and printmaker Odoardo Fialetti. Fialetti’s 1611 painting updates Barbari’s view of the city. However, it also distorts the scale of St Mark’s Square, allowing greater detail to be visible there. Within the square a performance on a raised platform can be made out, which includes a couple dressed in white and two masked figures. This may be a ‘momaria’: an allegorical performance forming part of a marriage celebration. The church of Santa Maria dell’Umilta also seems particularly prominent. It has been suggested that these features may once have been more central in the painting and there is evidence of the canvas being enlarged, particularly to one side. If so, this might indicate that the work was commissioned by another individual who did not accept or retain the work.
The painting was presented to the College in 1636 by Sir Henry Wotton, whose portrait can be seen in the Dining Room of the Provost’s Lodge. Wotton served as the first British Ambassador to Venice, completing his third and final embassy to the city in 1623. He was elected Provost of Eton College the following year.
The painting was presented to the College in 1636 by Sir Henry Wotton, whose portrait can be seen in the Dining Room of the Provost’s Lodge. Wotton served as the first British Ambassador to Venice, completing his third and final embassy to the city in 1623. He was elected Provost of Eton College the following year.
Description
Content (place)
Italy
Dimensions
height (canvas): 1921mm
width (canvas): 4225mm
height (sight size): 1887mm
width (sight size): 4191mm
height (frame): 2204mm
width (frame): 4497mm
depth (frame): 155mm
width (canvas): 4225mm
height (sight size): 1887mm
width (sight size): 4191mm
height (frame): 2204mm
width (frame): 4497mm
depth (frame): 155mm
Inscription
Signed, dated and inscribed lower sight edge: 'opus odoarovus Fialettio 1611'
In chalk on upper stretcher member: 'Eton College Hall'
In chalk on centre vertical and right (back) stretcher members: 'Keep Clear Pictures'
Handwritten label in ballpoint pen, on left (back) stretcher member: 'Mr McKenzie / at Pantech'
Handwritten label in ballpoint pen, on upper stretcher member: 'W O / 13954 / 3'
In chalk on upper stretcher member: 'Eton College Hall'
In chalk on centre vertical and right (back) stretcher members: 'Keep Clear Pictures'
Handwritten label in ballpoint pen, on left (back) stretcher member: 'Mr McKenzie / at Pantech'
Handwritten label in ballpoint pen, on upper stretcher member: 'W O / 13954 / 3'
Materials & techniques note
Oil on joined canvas
Physical description
Black painted and gilded wooden frame
Production
Person
Fialetti, Odoardo, 1573 - 1638 (Artist)
Date
1611
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Collection of Sir Henry Wotton; by whom presented to Eton College in 1636
Exhibited: Eton 1440-1490, Brewhouse Gallery, 1990; British Museum 'Shakespeare, Staging the World', 2012
Note: Order photo of Jacopo de’ Barbari, Pianta prospettiva di Venezia from Museo Correr, Venice (May 2007) Correspondence with Laura Walters, PhD student, St Andrew’s, working on F’s relationship with Wotton as route of entry for F’s works into England - in addition to contact with Earl of Arundel and Baron Roos (May 2007)
Exhibited: Eton 1440-1490, Brewhouse Gallery, 1990; British Museum 'Shakespeare, Staging the World', 2012
Note: Order photo of Jacopo de’ Barbari, Pianta prospettiva di Venezia from Museo Correr, Venice (May 2007) Correspondence with Laura Walters, PhD student, St Andrew’s, working on F’s relationship with Wotton as route of entry for F’s works into England - in addition to contact with Earl of Arundel and Baron Roos (May 2007)
References
• Visentini, M. A., ‘Ancora un’inedita pianta prospettica di Venezia in un dipinto di Odoardo Fialetti per Sir Henry Wotton’ in Bollettino Civici Musei Veneziani d’Arte e di Storia, 1980 (XXV N.S. n.1-4, pp 19-26)
• McConnell, ed., Treasures of Eton, London, 1976 (Short references )
• Eton 1440-1990, exhibition catalogue, 1990 (p.42)
• McConnell, ed., Treasures of Eton, London, 1976 (Short references )
• Eton 1440-1990, exhibition catalogue, 1990 (p.42)
