Anon. Piazetta, Venice after Samuel Prout

An original c.1832 watercolour painting Piazetta, Venice after Samuel Prout.

An exquisite miniature view of St Mark's Square in Venice, with foreshortening of the arcade of the Doge's Palace and the Marciana Library. Beautifully hand-painted in watercolour, with no discernible underdrawing, this tiny painting by an unknown hand displays remarkable skill.

This watercolour is after a larger work by Samuel Prout (1783–1852) which was reproduced as an engraved plate in 'The Tourist in Italy' by Thomas Roscoe, published in 1831. Prout was a master of watercolour architectural painting, Painter in Water-Colours in Ordinary to King George IV and, later, to Queen Victoria. His picturesque topographical drawings found huge influence as lithographic reproductions in the various illustrated travel books that had become so popular.

This dramatic viewpoint chosen by Prout at St Mark's Square is enthusiastically described in Roscoe's 'The Tourist in Italy': 'The most striking view from which to examine the architectural wonders of St Mark's Place is the eastern end of the square, whence, in addition to the edifices which surround the piazza, the eye catches, in the adjoining piazzetta, the Ducal Palace and the Library of St Mark, one of the most celebrated labours of Sansovino'.

On paper laid down on watermarked 'John Hall 1832' backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork. One of a set of six miniatures that we have for sale.