By Anne Leader
Known as the father of Italian vedute (views), Luca Carlevaris died on 12 February 1730 in Venice, the city stimulated his artistry and brought him renown. Though now more widely known through his followers Canaletto and Francesco Guardi, vedute, topographical images of towns or landscapes, came to be among the most popular picture type created in 18th-century Venice, especially among English tourists and collectors. His development of the picture type may have been inspired by a trip to Rome in 1698, where he was exposed to souvenir views and capricci (fantasy views) by artists like Gasparo Vanvitelli (Dutch, 1652-1736). He further popularized the genre through the publication of 104 engravings showing views of Venice (Le fabriche e vedute di Venezia disegnate poste in prospettiva et intagliate da Luca Carlevari)
Reference: John Wilson. “Carlevaris, Luca.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press.
The Reception of Cardinal César d’Estrées, 1701. Oil on canvas. Amsterdam,
Rijksmuseum
Plate 38: View of the facade of the church of St. Roch and at left the facade of the School of St. Roch, Venice, 1703, from the series ‘The buildings and views of Venice’ (Le fabriche evedute di Venezia). New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Plate 85: View of the Contarini Palace in Campo San Trovaso, Venice, 1703, from the series ‘The buildings and views of Venice’ (Le fabriche e
vedute di Venezia). New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Piazza San Marco, Venice. ca. 1709. Oil on canvas. New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
The Molo, Venice, from the Bacino di San Marco, ca. 1709. Oil on canvas. New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
The Bacino, Venice, with the Dogana and a Distant View of the Isola di San Giorgio, ca. 1709. Oil on canvas. New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
The Piazzetta at Venice, ca. 1700-10. Oil on canvas, San Diego, Timken Museum of Art, acquired by the Putnam Foundation, 1979