John Singer Sargent (Florence, 1856 - 1925, London)
Rio di San Salvatore, Venice, 1906-1911
Watercolor on paper, 25.1 x 35.5 cm (9 7/8 x 14 in.)
This rectangular, horizontal watercolor on paper painting uses loose brush strokes to depict a Venetian canal scene. This painting is from the perspective of the viewer sitting in a gondola, looking down a narrow canal. The gondola’s bow is visible to our lower left. Beyond that are two more gondolas: one with a gondolier standing atop. The canal is light blue, tan and darker green. The buildings on both sides are indistinctly depicted in pale pink, tan, green, and gray. A sliver of pale blue sky is visible in the distance. The painting is signed by the artist in the upper right corner: John S. Sargent.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.