Gabriele Bella, 1730 Venedig – 1799 ebenda

THE PIAZZA SAN MARCO IN VENICE Oil on canvas. Doubled. 62.5 x 93.5 cm. In profiled bronzed frame. Accompanied by a copy of an expertise by Dr. Federica Spadotto, Padua 2022. View from an elevated position across St. Mark's Square to St. Mark's Basilica and the high Campanile rising into the light blue sky with white cloud formations. The square is surrounded by the Procuratie. These are each decorated with small staffage figures and oriented towards the cathedral. The square itself, divided into wide strips of different colors, also leads in perspective to the cathedral. Numerous larger figures, some with dogs, in elegant baroque clothing, some with masks on their faces, populate the large Piazza San Marco. The light falls onto the square from the left, illuminating the procuratie on the right and the left side of the Campanile. Painting in the artist's typical manner with skillful use of light. Not much is known about the artist; he lived and worked in the area around Venice and mainly painted buildings and city life. He was also highly regarded as a documenter of Venetian festivals. Bella is said to have drowned in one of the canals in 1799. Literature: Cf. Federica Spadotto, Cicalate venete. Feste, giochi e tradizioni della Serenissima nei dipinti degli antichi maestri, San Casciano Val di Pesa 2011. Cf. Maneio Dazzi, Elbre Merkel, Catalogo della Pinacoteca della fondazione scientifica Querini Stampalia, Vicenza 1979 (1401881) (13) Gabriele Bella, 1730 Venice - 1799 ibid. PIAZZA SAN MARCO IN VENICE Oil on canvas. Relined. 62.5 x 93.5 cm. Accompanied by an expert's report by Dr. Federica Spadotto, Padua 2022, in copy. Literature: cf. F. Spadotto, Cicalate venete. Feste, giochi e tradizioni della Serenissima nei dipinti degli antichi maestri, San Casciano Val di Pesa 2011. cf. M. Dazzi - E. Merkel, Catalogo della Pinacoteca della fondazione scientifica Querini Stampalia, Vicenza 1979.