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.
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.