Original engraving, signed on plate; H. Salamon, "Canaletto", Milano 1971 n. 8; R. Bromberg, "Canaletto's etchings", Londra e New York 1974 n. 2; D. Succi, "Canaletto e Visentini", Gorizia 1986 n. 13; F. Montecuccoli Degli Erri, "Canaletto incisore", Venezia 2002 n. 2;
Splendid proof impressed in the fourth and last state, printed after the addition of the initials 'E4' at lower right. Irregular margins of a few millimetres all around the marginal line. In perfect state of preservation.
Canaletto began engraving at the time of his first trip to England in 1746. The first plates in the series 'Vedute altre prese da i Luoghi altre ideate da Antonio Canal e da esso intagliate poste in prospettiva' probably date from this date, but it was his stay in London that caused the interruption of production, which was resumed and completed in 1751. The frontispiece of the collection bears the dedication to the English consul Joseph Smith.
The Venetian master approached etching with the brilliance that distinguished him in painting, yet he chose to graphically depict views quite different from those he proposed in his paintings, surprising us with the depiction of lesser-known, less sumptuous places that show the everyday life of the time.
Canaletto dedicated this engraving to the ancient tower that stood in the small village near Mestre, demolished before the mid 19th century. Devoid of any intention to faithfully illustrate reality, the work presents itself as a reflection of a state of mind: the humble constructions and the simplicity of the characters manifest the desolation of lagoon life, and the artist takes part in all this by producing a piece of great lyricism. Bernardo Bellotto resumed the composition