Attributed to Francesco Albotto
Venice 1722-1758 Venice

This is a view of the Grand Canal with the Palazzo Pesaro in the center and the Palazzo Foscarini-Giovanelli on the right. Part of the Façade of the Church of S.Stae (S. Eustachio) can just be seen at the right edge of the painting. Until quite recently, little was known of the life of this 18th Century Venetian painter who only lived for 37 years. Jean Pierre Mariette writes in his memoirs on Michele Marieschi "Il a eu un disciple qui, comme son maître, peint des vues de Venise et des paysages ornés d'architecture qui ne sont pas mal touchés. Il se fît nommer 'il secondo Marieschi' et il en a épousé la veuve. Le disciple est mort lui même en 1758 le 13 janvier. Son véritable nom était François Albotto" (Pallucchini, 1960, p.186).

Few paintings by him are signed, though one sold in New York in 1972 had an inscription on the verso "Francesco Albotto F. in Cale di ca Loredan S. Luca" (see Pallucchini, 1972, p. 222). His technique was very close to that of Marieschi, using a tell-tale splodging of the paint to create a feeling of decaying architectural features. His perspective drawing is also much influenced by his master, using a fine brown paint and a stencil to delineate his architectural focal points.

After Marieschi's death in 1741, Albotto married his widow and continued to produce pictures for the busy Venetian market, usually of decidedly good quality but rather reminiscent of Marieschi. His pictures are quite rare.

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