
Read the visual description
The image shows a canal scene in a bustling city. On the right, there are ornately decorated buildings with intricate carvings and balconies, adorned with colorful awnings and flags. The horizon is low, aligning with the rooftops under a clear blue sky. The water is turquoise and reflects the activity on the canal, with various small boats, including gondolas and sailing vessels. The brushstrokes are delicate and detailed, especially in depicting architectural elements and the rippling water. The color palette consists of azure blues, warm earth tones, and bright splashes of colors from fabrics and boat sails, contrasting with the sky and water.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
A Gondola on the Grand Canal, Venice
William Callow
- Date
- 1866
- Medium
- watercolor over graphite with gouache on wove paper, laid down
- Dimensions
- sheet: 45.4 × 35.5 cm (17 7/8 × 14 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 2017.33.1
- Credit line
- Purchased as the Gift of Dian Woodner
- Time span
- 1851 to 1875
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Italy
- landscape
Provenance
(sale, Sotheby's London, 26 March 1975, no. 250). (Agnew's, London). (Galerie de Cadre, Paris). (sale, Christie's London, 8 July 1997, no. 74); to Bernadette and William M. B. Berger, Denver; (sale, Sotheby's, New York, 25 January 2017, no. 99); purchased (via Stephen Ongpin) by NGA, 2017.
Inscription
inscribed by the artist at lower right: William Callow 1866
NGA object ID 209456. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.