Venice, the Grand Canal looking East with Santa Maria della Salute
Canaletto was the ultimate 18th-century travel photographer, but with paintbrushes. This view captures the majestic Santa Maria della Salute church dominating the waterfront, its massive dome glowing under a pastel sky. You can spot the golden ball atop the Dogana customs house in the distance—a favorite landmark for British tourists on the 'Grand Tour' who bought these paintings as expensive souvenirs. Canaletto likely used a camera obscura (an early projector) to nail the precise architectural perspective that makes the buildings look almost photographic.
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