Glory Rivals 3

A self-guided recorded tour of the exhibition, narrated by Gallery Director Earl A. Powell III and with commentary by leading scholars on Venetian art and history, will be available for rental ($5.00) at the entrance to the exhibition. Focusing on major works in the exhibition, the tour will shed light on the popularity of paintings of Venice in the 18th century, when the maritime republic's economic and political glory had waned but the city's beauty and renowned festivals attracted ever-growing crowds of visitors. Comparisons of paintings depicting the same locations or similar subjects will illuminate the rivalry between Canaletto and artists such as Bernardo Bellotto and Francesco Guardi as they sought to capture the splendor of La Serenissima, the Most Serene Republic of Venice.

Glory Rivals 3

Venice: Canaletto and His RivalsThis lively and engaging film, largely shot on location in Venice, puts Canaletto and his talented but lesser-known rivals in context. Taking a closer look at the patrons and artists, the film also seeks to explain how the Grand Tourists' passion for Venice and its colorful round of festivals and ceremonies shaped the pictures by which we still define the city today. The 40-minute version of this film will be shown in the East Building Auditorium Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and select Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. from February 20 to May 30. A 15-minute version is shown inside the exhibition continuously. The film was produced by the National Gallery, London.

The entrance to the exhibition will feature a 37-foot-long gondola that once belonged to the American painter Thomas Moran and is now in the collection of The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia. One of the world's oldest gondolas, it will visually "transport" visitors to the lagoon city celebrated in the views of Canaletto and his rivals. 041b061a72