Restaurabits

Secrets and other curiosities

“La plaza de San Marco en Venecia” de Canaletto, después de la restauración

Discovering the invisible

Detail in macro-photography of the painting by Canaletto, “The Piazza San Marco in Venice”
Detalle en macrofotografía de la obra de Canaletto “La plaza de San Marcos en Venecia”

Did you know that these curious cats were hidden in the painting? It was quite a surprise to discover them during our examinations. Macrophotography enabled us to observe many details that would have gone unnoticed to the naked eye, such as these small felines roaming the rooftops of St Mark’s Square in Venice.

This technique offers a surprising degree of detail, revealing valuable information about the works studied and providing data of great historical and artistic value. By taking macrophotographs of the entire surface, we can gain an in-depth understanding of the artist’s painstaking technique. And macrophotography is also an essential tool for thoroughly examining a painting’s condition.

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A theatre stage

In this picture Canaletto divides the composition into two along a vertical axis, masterfully establishing two almost symmetrical parts. He employs two vanishing points located at equal distances from the middle of the work. These points guide the spectator’s gaze into the background, combining both perspectives, and create a surprising visual balance. It is fascinating how the artist plays with the different viewpoints, achieving a unique and carefully constructed scene.
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Discovery of the fingerprint

While conducting our technical study of the painting, we found a fingerprint, which could be Otto Dix’s, impressed on the picture’s surface beside the tiepin. 
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The beautiful Apollo

Infrared reflectography reveals the preparatory drawing or sketch concealed by the layers of paint. It shows how the artist progressively made changes to the composition. 
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