# Imaginary View of Venice, houses at left with figures on terraces, a domed church at center in the background, boats and boat-sheds below, and a seated man observing from a wall at right in the foreground, from "Views" (Vedute altre prese da i luoghi altre ideate da Antonio Canal)

**Canaletto** (Italian, 1697–1768)  
1741  
Etching; undivided plate, only state  
Sheet (Trimmed): 11 13/16 × 17 3/16 in. (30 × 43.7 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973.634. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/335287).

## About this work

Canaletto made this in 1741, aged 44. It is now at The Met in New York.

### How it was made

- **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.

### [Canaletto](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/canaletto)

Italian, 1697–1768; born in Venice; died in Venice

Canaletto, the son of a Venetian painter of theatre scenery, turned in the 1720s to painting views of his native city and became its leading vedutista. British travellers on the Grand Tour were his most eager patrons, many through the merchant and consul Joseph Smith. When war cut off that trade he went to England, working there from 1746 to the mid-1750s on views of London and country houses such as Warwick Castle. He also made a set of etchings that includes imaginary views.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Prints
- The artist was 44
- Real size: about 16 × 21 in (41 × 53 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Subjects: Cities, Churches, Boats, Venice
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/995.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/995/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/imaginary-view-of-venice-houses-at-left-with-figures-on-terr-met-335287).