Visit: Wednesday 17 November 2010
Meeting Place: The Conference Room, St. James’s Piccadilly, W1

10.30 am
Canaletto and his Rivals: An Introduction
Charles Beddington, Independent Scholar and Curator of the Exhibition

11.40 am
Coffee

12.00 noon
Visit to the exhibition “Venice: Canaletto and his Rivals” at the National Gallery

This splendid exhibition will highlight the extraordinary variety of Venetian view painting in the eighteenth century and celebrate not only the genius of Canaletto but also the exceptional achievements of his now less well-known rivals and associates which include Luca Carlevarijs, Michele Marieschi, his nephew, Bernardo Bellotto, and Francesco Guardi. The English milordi fuelled a vibrant and highly competitive market for Venetian views which saw artists jostling for commissions and fame. Together they immortalised some of the best-loved landmarks of the city including the Grand Canal, the Piazza San Marco, the Rialto and the Lagoon.