18th Century Italian Etching: Vertude di Luca Carlevaris

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Luca Carlevaris (1663/65–1730), “View of the facade of the church of St. Roch and at left the facade of the School of St. Roch, Venice," 1703

etching, 10 3/4 x 15 1/2 in. Courtesy of the Gallery.

A rare exhibition of etchings from 1703 by the father of Italian vertude, Luca Carlevaris, displays at the Petley Jones Gallery. Veduta prints were highly detailed and accurate, commissioned by wealthy travelers on the Grand Tour. As such, vertude were influential in shaping the popular imagination of Italy and its cities. They helped to create the romantic image of Italy as a land of ancient ruins, picturesque landscapes, and vibrant cities. The exhibition is a must see for art history enthusiasts, lovers of Italian art and culture.

“Veduta” plural vedute, describes a type of Italian printmaking that became popular in the 18th century. The word "veduta" means "view" in Italian, and these prints typically depicted panoramic views of architectural elements, landscapes, and historical sites. Among the first prints to depict topographical views of cities and landscapes, this breakthrough in accuracy and scope was made possible by advances in surveying and cartography.

As the itinerary of the Grand Tour, aristocratic Englishman recalled early ventures to the Continent, procuring vertude of standardized scenes, like the Roman Forum or the Grand Canal. As such, vertude were influential in shaping the popular imagination of Italy. The genre was pioneered by Luca Carlevaris, and its greatest practitioners belonged to the Canal and Guardi families of Venice.

Experience the Italian printmaking that defined Italy, offers a valuable glimpse into the past, and continues to inspire artists and art lovers around the world.