Imagine Seeing Venice When It Was Like This

Venice is a city of splendour. The great seafaring city-state, which sits at the crossroads of east and west having traded with both, became a city of merchants and travellers, bringing in silks, spices, marbles, indigo and jewels. William Logsdail’s portrayal of Venice encapsulates much of this rich tapestry — as it appeared in the 19th century. The painting shows a panorama of crowds in the main square of the city, capturing the incessant bustle of the piazza of San Marco. <img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*9-oSQjAxTAh3ufRQB4Q6qA.jpeg" style="height:500px; width:700px" /> Detail of ‘The Piazza of Saint Mark’s, Venice’ (1883) by William Logsdail. Oil on canvas. 126.2 × 222.3 cm. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, UK. Image source <a href="https://dams.birminghammuseums.org.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=4053&index=0&total=20&categoryId=1808&categoryTypeId=2&collection=Top+20+Print+Images&sortAttributeId=0&sortDescending=false" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">BMA</a> (open access) We see glimpses of the arches and mosaics of the great basilica in the distance, with its multitude of columns and gold, whilst sprawling out in front is a plethora of activity. There are tourists drinking coffee, men with exotic animals, bohemian artists, locals gesticulating and smoking, and friends and companions in the midst of conversation. <a href="https://christopherpjones.medium.com/imagine-seeing-venice-when-it-was-like-this-7c2abc85101b">Click Here</a>