A new exhibition opens at the Ashmolean today; drawings of Venice culled from the Uffizi, Christ Church and their own collection. Among others they are by Titian, Tintoretto and Canaletto.
If you think you might visit, booking is advisable both for the exhibition and the restaurant at the top of the museum with super views of Oxford. On the other hand you might rather have your own drawing of Venice that you can look at every day. I have two etchings by Malte Sartorius, a distinguished 82 year old German print maker. His collection of Venice etchings has been compared to Canaletto’s Venice etchings. Take a look at them at the Francis Kyle Gallery website. Don’t go to their premises in Maddox Street, where I bought my pictures. After 36 years Francis has closed his gallery and sells through his website and from home.
Here is what the Financial Times had to say about these pictures last year.
Prices vary but you can buy a large framed etching signed and numbered in an edition of maybe 40 for less than £1,000.
There is a family connection with Venice to be seen on San Michele, the cemetery island. My great-great grandmother is buried there. Her headstone is of Kilkenny marble, shipped out from Ireland.
David Chipperfield’s series of courtyards on the island are constructed of basalt clad walls. This project started about 20 years ago and is still incomplete. It has cost 25 million euros so far.
