The essence and definition of painting is, the imitation of visible objects, by means of form and colors: Wherefore the more, forcibly and faithfully painting imitates nature, the more directly and rapidly does it lead us to its end, which is to deceive the eye; and the surer proofs does it give us of its true idea.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Old Horse Guards by Canaletto

The Old Horse Guards by Canaletto
This painting has been dated as 1748. It certainly shows the building as an active military garrison – its demolition commenced in early 1750.

The complete Guard, totaling possibly 100 all ranks, is seen on Guard Mounting parade with the Colour at its center.

The earliest surviving written orders describing such parades, with the Colour being trooped and lodged with attendant courtesies and procedures, are dated February 1749 in First Guards and Coldstream Guards.

Giovanni A. Canal was born in Venice but later simply became known as ‘Canaletto’. His father was a theoretical scene painter so, as soon as he was knee high to a palette knife, little Canaletto began helping poppa in the studio, after he went to Rome and studied perspective with Panini, the architectural artist who got him interested in painting the trendy new cityscapes known as ‘veduta’.
The Old Horse Guards by Canaletto
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