Canaletto & Bellotto

Canaletto & Bellotto 
at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna 
24 March – 6 September 2026 
Monday 20 April at 6:00pm 

Canaletto is undoubtedly the most famous vedutista – or ‘painter of views’ – from Venice, and all others are sometimes thought to pale in comparison. However, this depends on personal taste - many prefer Guardi - but it can also be determined by nationality. Given that there are more paintings of Venice by the master in one room of the National Gallery in London than in all of the public museums of Venice put together, in Britain he is usually the favoured artist. However, when he came to England in the 1740s and 50s to meet his market, there were questions about his authenticity: was this really ‘the veritable Canaletto’? Meanwhile, on the continent, his nephew Bellotto – using the name Canaletto to cash in on his uncle’s reputation – was visiting Dresden, Munich, Warsaw… and Vienna (which is one of the reasons the exhibition is being held there). In these places Bellotto has precedence.

Although not the first exhibition to look at Uncle and Nephew together, it will be the first to compare their travels, and so to give us the opportunity to compare the paintings of London and Vienna that they created. Both are remarkable in their ability to capture the spirit of a place, the mood and atmosphere of their subject, and both excel at painting the details of everyday life which help us to believe what we see. As to which is better – well, it is probably better to ask which you prefer. At the moment I am fairly certain of my choice – but you’ll have to join me for the talk to see if you agree!

 Please remember, I do not record my talks.