Thomas Moran: Grand Canal, Venice

Thomas Moran (American, 1837 – 1926). Grand Canal, Venice, signed Moran and dated 1903. (lower left), oil on canvas, 14 by 20 ¼ in., 35.6 by 51.4 cm., Image Source: Sotheby’s

“Executed twenty years after his first visit in 1886, the present work is further evidence of his prolonged interest in Venetian subject matter. Enthralled by the colors and light of this Italian city, Moran often anchored his Venetian subjects with recognizable architecture. The white domes of Santa Maria della Salute, along with the campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica across the waterway, ground the composition while an effervescent rainbow arches across the canvas. An ode to Moran’s infatuation with the architecture of this unique city, the mesmerizing cadence of the arches of Doge’s Palace gently match the rhythmic swaying of the colorful boats dotting the canal.”

READ FULL ESSAY: Sotheby’s