Gabriele Bella (1730–1799)

Oil on canvas. Expert analysis: Dr. Dario Succi, Gorizia. Baroque artist Gabriele Bella lived and worked primarily in Venice, where he focused on capturing the urban mood and local buildings. In this work, the viewer finds himself in the middle of a generously conceived St Mark’s Square in Venice, with a view of one of the most important monuments of the city – the cathedral. Michel Marieschi’s etching, part of a series of twenty-one views of Venice published in 1741 and entitled Magnificentiores Selectioresque Urbis Venetarium Prospectus, served as an inspiration for this work. The painting features the same perspective as the etching and the shading also largely corresponds to the draft. In addition to portraying contemporary historical buildings, the artist also depicts people of various social classes passing by. The overall scene is a shining example of how the artist was able to capture the mood and atmosphere of the place, thus achieving an illustrative description of Venetian life in the late 18th century. The painting dates to the years 1780-1785 when the artist was at the peak of his career and expressive abilities and significant collectors such as the Querini and Giustiniani families highly valued his work.