Capriccio with a Roman Arch

Italian (Venetian), 1720-1780
c. 1745
Oil on canvas
Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation

Bellotto was Canaletto’s nephew and worked in his studio. He traveled extensively painting scenic views and landscapes for royal patrons across Europe. Bellotto’s paintings often appear more atmospheric and moody than Canaletto’s and he is more interested in classical architecture. This work is a capriccio, or imaginary landscape. It is a picturesque but does not replicate one location exactly. The Roman triumphal arch may indicate that this was painted after his return from Rome.