Church of the Maddalena, Venice

In a letter to Nan Hudson in 1907, Sickert wrote that Venice was, 'the loveliest city in the world.' (Walter Sickert to Nan Hudson, 1907; Tate Archive). After his first brief visit in 1894, he returned for longer periods in 1895-1896, 1900-1901 and 1903-1904. Sickert was inspired by the ciy's unique light, flamboyant history and rich architectural heritage. The church of Santa Maria Maddalena is located in the sestiere of Cannaregio, an area relatively unfrequented by tourists, which may have been part of its appeal for Sickert. Demonstrating his awareness of the compositional practices of artists such as Degas, Sickert has positioned the church within a tightly cropped frame, thereby creating a more visually dynamic and arresting viewpoint. The importance that Sickert placed on his Venetian works is evident by his selection of Santa Maria della Salute, 1901, rather than a London scene, as his diploma piece when elected to the Royal Academy in 1934.