Abraham Jansz. Storck, (Amsterdam circa 1635-circa 1710)

A capriccio of Venice with Saint Mark's Basilica and the Campanile

A capriccio of Venice with Saint Mark's Basilica and the Campanile
signed and dated 'A. Storck. Fecit Ao 1679' (on boat, lower right)
oil on panel
51.5 x 64.4cm (20 1/4 x 25 3/8in).

Provenance
Sale, Drouot-Richelieu, Paris, 19 June 2000, lot 47 (sold for FRF 1,300,000)

Whilst many Italianate elements often appear in Abraham Storck's Mediterranean harbour and coastal scenes, the present capriccio of Venice with Saint Mark's Basilica and the Campanile is unusual in that it includes recognisable, known buildings from the Bacino di San Marco in Venice. The artist has, however, relocated several buildings to create a more balanced composition; Saint Mark's Basilica has been shifted to the water's edge, as has the Campanile, and the Marciana Library is relatively faithfully reproduced, albeit with a few architectural details altered.

Storck is not known to have ever visited Italy and his Mediterranean views are imaginary scenes using Italianate elements. A year before the present painting was executed, Storck produced a preparatory drawing of exactly this composition, signed and dated 1678, which is now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (acc. no. PD.724-1963, see fig. 1).