'Piazza San Marco, Venice'
signed 'W.RUSSELL FLINT' (lower right);
further signed and inscribed 'Piazza San Marco, November Twilight, Venice/W Russell Flint-' (on the reverse)
Original watercolour
Image size 59 x 38.4cm (23 1/4 x 15 1/8in).
Provenance: The Fine Art Society Ltd., London.
Exhibited May, 1937.
This painting is of particular importance; it was published by W.J. Stacey in 1930
A signed, limited edition of 300
Priced at 5 guineas.
Gallery label on rear of painting
Gallery title and signature signed by Sir William Russell Flint, verso of painting
Gallery title and signature signed by Sir William Russell Flint, verso of backing board
The Basilica di San Marco lies at the eastern side of the Piazza of the same name, in the heart of Venice.
Until Ruskin's day, it was generally criticised for its; "ill shaped domes; its walls of brick encrusted with marble;
its chaotic disregard for symmetry; its confused hodge-podge..".
Ruskin however saw.. "a lovely dream, a seabourne vase of alabaster, the most magical and mysterious of churches".
The basic structure was certainly a brick built Byzantine basilica, completed in the year 1100.
During the following centuries the facade and interior were clad in marble, and vivid mosaics decorated the lunettes above the main arches.
The rail of the gallery is 13th century while the late 14th centuryembellishments to the pinnacles, upper archivolts and window traceries are in Gothic style.
