Bernardo Bellotto

1721 -1780

born in Venice in 1721, the nephew of the famous painter Giovanni Antonio Canal, aka

“Canaletto”. Bellotto followed in his uncle’s steps by specialising in accurate and

detailed city vistas (vedute). In later years, he even confusingly adopted Canaletto’s

name. He travelled widely through Europe, typically obtaining major commissions for

cycles of city views, culminating in his 1768 appointment as the court painter for

Poland’s last king, Stanislaw August Poniatowski. It was here that he produced the