Venice, Bacino di San Marco on Ascension Day

Venice, Bacino di San Marco on Ascension Day, painted in 1754, is a late depiction of Venice's most spectacular annual celebration, created after Canaletto's return from England. The painting captures the broad basin of water in front of the Piazza San Marco filled with hundreds of vessels celebrating the Sensa — the ceremonial marriage of Venice to the sea. The late date may account for a slightly different handling from his earlier Ascension Day views, with the extensive lagoon panorama rendered with the accumulated experience of a painter who had depicted this scene throughout his career. The painting documents one of the final decades of this ancient ceremony, which ended with the fall of the Republic to Napoleon in 1797.

The panoramic basin view is filled with festive vessels, their flags and banners adding color to the composition. The late work retains Canaletto's compositional skill though with slightly more schematic figure handling.