ENRICO VIVIANI

(Italian, 20th Century)

A VENETIAN BACK-WATER

Oil on Canvas

24 x 48 Inches

Signed Lower Right

In a Burnished Mahogany and Giltwood Frame

The son of a family of gondoliers, Viviani showed an early talent for painting and was awarded a scholarship to the Venice Art Academy. He specialized in views of his native city that show great facility with the interplay of light and water. We are pleased to offer this large and exceptional view of one of Venice's many charming back-waters that shows Viviani at the height of his powers. Of particular note is the artist's effortless balancing of opacity and translucency in the varied reflections in the limpid canal waters and his bold rendering of sunlight and shadow on the crumbling stucco of the venerable buildings.