# Warwick Castle: The East Front

**Canaletto** (Italian, 1697–1768)  
1752  
Pen and brown ink, gray wash  
12 7/16 x 22 1/8 in. (31.6 x 56.2 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1975.1.297. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/459183).

## About this work

Canaletto spent nearly a decade in England from 1746, when war had cut off the flow of British travellers to Venice. Among his patrons there was Lord Brooke, owner of Warwick Castle, of which he made several views. In this drawing of the castle’s east front, crisp pen lines define the towers and walls while grey wash lays in shadow and gives the medieval masonry its bulk.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

Canaletto drew this in 1752, aged 55. It is now at The Met in New York.

### How it was made

- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.

### [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: Drawings
- The artist was 55
- Real size: about 12 × 22 in (32 × 56 cm). The 18 × 24 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Subjects: Castles
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1266.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1266/1920.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
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164
- 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

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/warwick-castle-the-east-front-met-459183).