A canal in Venice

One of the most successful and widely exhibited of the Italian painters, Rubens Santoro's airy and atmospheric paintings of Venice rank among the artist's most beloved subjects. Before attending art school at l'Istituto delle Belle Arti di Napoli, the young Santoro learned the basics of painting and drawing from his father, the painter and sculptor Giovanni Battista Santoro. Santoro spent little time in the studio, preferring the experience of painting al fresco. This, combined with the artist’s interest in architecture and the effects of light on water, made Venice an ideal subject for him. The vibrant blues and crisp whites in this painting of a Venetian canal are quintessential examples of Rubens’ understanding of colour and perspective. The warm light reflecting off the buildings, contrasted against the rich blue of the sky captures the city’s vibrant palette, while the relaxed gondolier and suggestion of gentle movement in the water in the foreground expresses the serenity of a quiet afternoon spent on a Venetian canal.