Canaletto: Painting Venice: The Woburn Series

In Venice, on the Grand Tour in 1731, the future fourth Duke of Bedford met with the great art agent, Consul Joseph Smith. The comission he placed resulted in 24 of the greatest and most typical works of Canaletto. This unparalleled set of paintings was first installed in Bedford House London, and was moved in 1800 to the splendour of the Dining Room at Woburn, where it has remained ever since. Fully illustrated with many details, this publication marks the first time these paintings have been reproduced in colour. An extensive introduction, by the leading Canaletto scholar Charles Beddington, puts these works into perspective, and there are full topographical and art historical descriptions of each picture.