111 - Francesco Tironi (Venice 1745–1797), attributed

Francesco Tironi (Venice 1745–1797), attributed View of Dolo with the Brenta River and the Cathedral Oil on canvas 27 x 19.5 cm This small work depicts a detail of the Brenta River and the church of Dolo, taken from Canaletto’s view of Dolo housed at the Bemberg Foundation in Toulouse, dated approximately 1740. A few years later, between 1741 and 1745, Canaletto engraved the same image. Considering that the work stems from a composition by Canaletto—as evidenced by the leaden-gold hue permeating the scene and the arrangement of the figures scattered between the shore and the boats—it is proposed that the work be attributed to Francesco Tironi. See: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bemberg_Fondation_Toulouse_-_Vue_de_Dolo_-_Canaletto_ca_1740_-_Inv_1011.jpg https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0302036013 Francesco Tironi is considered the last great Venetian landscape painter of the 18th century. Luca Carlevarijs, Antonio Canal (known as Canaletto), Francesco Guardi, Michele Marieschi, and Bernardo Bellotto were the leading figures of the famous Venetian school of landscape painting. Alongside them worked many so-called “minor” artists, such as: G.B. Cimaroli, A. Stom, F. Albotto, A. Domenichini (also known as the Master of the Langmatt Foundation), Gabriel Bella, A. Joli, F. Battaglioli, and the foreign artists J. Richter, H.F. Van Lint, and William James. Among these figures is the painter Francesco Tironi, about whom we have scant biographical information, which has come down to us thanks to Moschini. He was indebted to Canaletto and Guardi: he often used the former’s engravings to structure his cityscapes, while from the latter he drew upon the dark hues and abstract, melancholic figures, all executed with flair and agility. His Venetian cityscapes likely capture the decadent spirit of the Serenissima; they do not shine with the golden light of Canaletto’s fame, but rather seem like snapshots of a motionless, weary city, aware of its own fate. Francesco Tironi (Venice 1745–1797) attributed View of Dolo with the River Brenta and the Cathedral Oil on canvas 27 x 19.5 cm This small work depicts a detail of the Brenta River and the church of Dolo, taken from Canaletto’s view of Dolo held at the Bemberg Foundation in Toulouse, dated approximately 1740. A few years later, between 1741 and 1745, Canaletto engraved the same image. Given that the painting is derived from an original composition by Canaletto, and considering the leaden tones that pervade the scene, as well as the arrangement of the figures scattered along the riverbank and among the boats, the work is attributed to Francesco Tironi. See: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bemberg_Fondation_Toulouse_-_Vue_de_Dolo_-_Canaletto_ca_1740_-_Inv_1011.jpg https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0302036013