View of Venice
A multitalented painter and interior decorator, Colman was a founder and first president of the American Watercolor Society (1867–71), playing a significant role in elevating the practice of watercolor in the United States. A seasoned traveler to widespread locales, he spent extended time in Venice between 1871 and 1875, returning to New York with numerous paintings in oil, watercolor, and pastel as well as etchings. In this "most serene" view of the ancient republic—dubbed "La Serenissima"—ghostly silhouettes of some of Venice’s most iconic structures shimmer on the horizon line. The evocative beauty of the city’s watery setting is evident in the variety of fishing and sailing vessels, along with a gondola.
Artwork Details
- Title: View of Venice
- Artist: Samuel Colman (American, Portland, Maine 1832–1920 New York)
- Date: ca. 1875
- Geography: Country of Origin United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Pastel and charcoal on toned wove paper
- Dimensions: 12 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (31.8 × 47 cm)
Framed: 20 1/2 × 25 3/4 in. (52.1 × 65.4 cm) - Credit Line: Gift of Martha J. Fleischman and Barbara G. Fleischman, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.481.1
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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