Nordic school circa 1850 - Venice, the back of the church of Saint Roch

Nordic school of the middle of the 19th century
Venice, the back of the church of Saint Roch and the campanile of the Frari
Oil on canvas
H. 39 cm ; W. 32 cm
Traces of signature in the lower right corner


It is always very frustrating not to be able to identify the author of a painting, especially, as it is the case here, when the work is of a very high quality.
The rendering, of a great sensitivity, of the light and the play of shadows, the very
The rendering, of great sensitivity, of light and shadows, the very precise workmanship of the architecture and vegetation, and the general atmosphere are, however, quite characteristic of Nordic painters, and we think particularly of a German or especially a Danish artist.
The two figures, especially the young man with the Nordic cap resting against the fountain, are executed with a marked attention to detail.


Standing in a small square in the historic district of San Polo, the artist depicts the back of the church of Saint Roch, with its campanile, its apse, and two statues adorning the top of the façade. The other bell tower is that of the Church of the Frari; it seems to be one with the Church of Saint Roch, although it is located a few dozen meters away.