Venice, with its natural harbor and historic architecture, has drawn artists for centuries. But it is American Master Thomas Moran who brought the city to its greatest heights. His most prized scenes are inspired with a luminosity and technique unsurpassed, arguably even by the hand of J.M.W. Turner, who so influenced him.
Moran painted Venice for many years, and in this vibrant and masterful work captures the interplay of light and water that's evident in every stroke. The sky comes alive with lively brushwork that sets the afternoon clouds aflame with deep red tones over a base of vibrant blue. Impasto touches of pure color fill the foreground with ships and figures.
Moran likely sketched for this painting from shores of San Giorgio Maggiori. This spectacular view became a favorite of the artist, the scene he called the "Gate of Venice"; showing the mouth of the Grand Canal as it passes between Santa Maria della Salute on the left and the Piazza de San Marco on the right. The Salute is almost in silhouette, bathed in warm red light along with the many sailing ships at dock. On the right, the sun reflects off the pale stone landmarks of St. Mark's Square with the spire of the Campanile rising above the Doge's Palace.
Standing before this view of the romantic city, a young couple is highlighted on one of the moored vessels in the foreground. He stands proudly in deep blue and she in a fine dress, holding flowers. His arm is draped over her shoulders and she leans in to the embrace. Were they just married in the nearby Basilica? Or maybe they took their vows on the boat itself, the deck decorated with rich fabrics while onlookers watch from nearby vessels, their brightly colored sails adding even more to the festive scene.
A marriage on Venice's lagoon would be particularly significant, mirroring the city's annual "Marriage to the Sea" ceremony. Started in the year 1177 and performed to this day, each year Venice is symbolically married to the waters surrounding it, reaffirming that Venice and the sea are "indissolubly one". Moran too clearly understood this vital relationship, nodding to it by including the practical vignette on the left, where a second group of people pull in and repair fishing nets, seemingly oblivious to the celebration nearby. Moran rarely featured figures so prominently in his Venice paintings.
Thomas Moran was indisputably one of America's most influential and visionary artists with his work celebrated and collected during his own lifetime. Moran's Venice scenes were the most prized by collectors, selling for up to $5000 each, a very high price for the time. It is believed that he made around 100 images of the city.
This painting was also published as a print by Brown & Bigelow, made in limited edition and signed in pencil by the artist. Very few of Moran's works were made into prints and the selection of this work is an indication of its superior status among his Venice works. Moran is even more prized today, and this painting that captures the romance of Venice would be a highlight of any collection.
This painting will be included in Stephen L. Good's and Phyllis Braff's forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work.
