Giovanni Antonio Canal, universally known as Canaletto, began his creative life designing grand theatrical stage sets alongside his father. A pivotal journey to Rome exposed him to painters of ancient ruins, inspiring him to exchange the theatre for the streets. Returning to Venice, he dedicated his brush to recording the architectural splendor of his native city.

The artist pioneered the genre of Venetian view painting. While he occasionally used a camera obscura to anchor his mathematical perspective, he regularly altered building dimensions to create more harmonious, luminous compositions.

His canvases are celebrated for their shimmering waters, brilliant sunshine, and highly detailed crowds. Today, he remains the definitive visual record keeper of 18th-century Venice.