(Alexandria 1785–1837 Milan)
View of the Doge’s Palace and the Bacino San Marco, oil on canvas, 37.5 x 61 cm, framed, craquelure, (GG)

Provenance:
European private collection.

Compare:
Philipps, London, 5. december 1995, lot. 68.

The present lot depicts one of the most famous views of Venice, with the Doge’s Palace, the Palazzo delle Prigioni, the Palazzo Dandolo and the Campanile rising above St. Mark’s Square. The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is visible in the distance.
In the foreground the waters of the Bacino are filled with vessels and gondolas. Decorative figures populate the quayside in the foreground. These groupings provide an enchanting keynote to the entire picture.

The luminous palette, technical precision and lively brushwork demonstrated in the present work demonstrate the influence of Canaletto and Guardi.
Migliara trained in Milan under the painter Gaspare Galliari. He then specialized in landscape painting, reinterpreting the Venetian tradition of the vedute. He was most celebrated for his architectural paintings, and had a predilection for fantastic architecture and capricci.

Increased demand for souvenir views amongst the bourgeoisie encouraged artists such as Migliara to work in Venice and take advantage of this boom.