Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal) (artist)

Trained by his father, a painter of theatrical scenery, Canaletto specialized in views of his native Venice. By the 1730s, he was one of the most successful artists in Europe. His most avid patrons were the English aristocrats who came to Venice on their Grand Tour of Europe and commissioned painted views of the city as souvenirs. Canaletto depicted famous landmarks from different areas of Venice and made them appear to be located beside one another. His attention to detail helped make fictional scenes appear more realistic.