The Piazzetta

John Singer Sargent, c. 1911

This painting shows a scene of a city seen across a canal. Gondolas are on the water closest to us, with a large building on the left and a tall column on the right, behind which are more buildings, including one with a dome. The painting style is loose and fluid, capturing light and shadow with soft brushstrokes and a color palette of pale blues, pinks, yellows, greens, and creams. Darker brushstrokes give the impression of people walking below the buildings.
Artist
John Singer Sargent
Date
c. 1911
Type
Drawing
Medium
watercolor over graphite on wove paper mounted to board
Dimensions
39.9 × 50.4 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This painting shows a scene of a city seen across a canal. Gondolas are on the water closest to us, with a large building on the left and a tall column on the right, behind which are more buildings, including one with a dome. The painting style is loose and fluid, capturing light and shadow with soft brushstrokes and a color palette of pale blues, pinks, yellows, greens, and creams. Darker brushstrokes give the impression of people walking below the buildings.

John Singer Sargent