Canaletto: A Venetian’s View

Saturday 1 October 2022 – Saturday 7 January 2023 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Celebrating the wonderful work of Canaletto, this exhibition features stunning paintings from Woburn Abbey, Tate, Compton Verney, and Birmingham Museums Trust – together with artworks from Worcester’s Fine Art Collection.

Canaletto revolutionised the use of colour, ground and canvas and pioneered the technique of painting from life, sitting in front of the subject outdoors as opposed to his contemporaries of the time who completed paintings in the studio. This exhibition explores Canaletto’s work and the impact he had on the generations of artists who followed him.

Born in Venice, Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697 – 1768), commonly known as Canaletto, was an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school. He became very popular with English collections, and visited England repeatedly between 1746 – 56.

It is extremely rare for this hugely significant collection to leave Woburn Abbey, and this will be the first time the paintings will be united with other examples of Canaletto’s work from Birmingham Museums and Compton Verney.

The paintings on display were commissioned in the 1730s by the fourth Duke of Bedford, and are considered the absolute best of Canaletto’s paintings of Venice.

The exhibition is being described as the most ambitious in the history of Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.

Book your visit to this once-in-a-generation exhibition using the link below.

Booking your ticket in advance is recommended to guarantee entry at the time you wish to visit.

Please be aware online booking closes the night before and isn’t available on the day.

You can buy your ticket from the Museum Shop on the day if time slots are not fully booked.

If you would like to confirm availability in advance, please check online or phone the Museum Shop on 01905 722137 (10.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday).

What’s on…

Bite-size Talks

Bringing Canaletto to Worcester

Tuesday 8 November, 1.30 – 2pm and 2.30 – 3pm (fully booked).

Tuesday 13 December, 1.30 – 2pm (a repeat of the 8 November talk).

Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum’s exhibitions curator will explore the Venetian artist’s work and life, his historic tour of the Midlands, and how these wonderful paintings have come to Worcester. £3; book here.

Evening Talks Series

Canaletto in Context; Thursday 13 October.

Hear from Matthew Hirst, Curator at Woburn Abbey, as he discusses the fascinating paintings by Canaletto. He will also explore their context in the wider fine and decorative arts in the collections at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Book here.

From Italy to England; Thursday 24 November.

Though famed for his depictions of Venice, Canaletto spent almost a decade living in London. Charles Beddington will introduce the artist’s paintings of his home city alongside those he made in England – including paintings of Warwick Castle and Vauxhall Gardens. Book here.

A Contemporary View; Thursday 8 December.

How is a painter who lived and worked 300 years ago able to influence art today? Worcester-based contemporary arts gallery, Pitt Studio, will delve into the subject of Canaletto’s legacy. Book here.

£20 per talk; includes exhibition entry*, a drink, and the talk.

*If you are a Member, Worcester resident, or another entry concession applies to you, please select this when booking your event ticket.

Family Trail

Explore the museum and exhibition in a fun, family-friendly way with an art trail; £1 from the Museum Shop.

Making Canaletto Accessible

Alongside the exhibition we have an audio guide which allows visitors to hear more about Canaletto’s stunning artworks. If you are interested, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help you.

Please be aware, there is a limited number and priority will be given to people with visual impairments.

Braille transcripts of the information panels are also available upon request.

Schools

Looking to book a FREE self-guided visit for your school? Find out more about school visits and enquire today.

With thanks to Woburn Abbey, Tate, Compton Verney, and Birmingham Museums Trust for lending their works.

This exhibition has been made possible with Art Fund support.

Canaletto: A Venetian’s View also receives financial assistance from The Elmley Foundation.

Image 1: Canaletto, ‘View of the Grand Canal from the Palazzo Bembo to Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi (No. 3)’. Woburn Abbey Collection.

Image 2: Canaletto, ‘Warwick Castle East Front from the Outer Court’, Birmingham Museums Trust.