17. Gondolas in Venice [1924]

The refinement of his art, in which he confidently indulges, follows his spontaneous inclinations from the beginning. He will never hesitate in the face of the enthusiasm foreshadowed by experiments and study exercises, and the courses taken in Paris will open up the Romanian painter's appetite for travel. He will discover Venice, which he will transcribe in unique mural paintings, making panoramas of the canals, bridges, or monumental architectural constructions. The imposing Ca d’Oro Palace, also known as the Saint Sofia Palace, located on the Grand Canal in Venice, became the central subject of several works signed by Gheorghe Petrașcu over time. The monumental construction was made in the 15th century, specifically from 1428, when some of the original parts were covered with gold edges, resulting in astonishing polychromy that unfortunately was lost over the centuries. Ca d’Oro is, therefore, one of the oldest palaces in the city, which enjoys unique Gothic architecture. Currently, at the end of a detailed restoration, the building has been turned into a museum and houses the art collection of Baron Giorgio Franchetti, the one who purchased the palace in 1894 and also the one who later donated it to the state, in 1916.

References

OPRESCU, George, "Gheorghe Petrașcu", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1963. FLOREA, Vasile, "Gheorghe Petrașcu", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1989.

Dimensions

width 45 cm, height 34 cm

Description

oil on wood, signed and dated bottom right, in blue, "G. Petrașcu, (1)924"

Dating

1924

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