Lot Essay
Bragozzi in the Lagoon belongs to the artist's last Venetian group of pictures, begun on the spot in 1877 and finished at home in the following year.
As usual with pictures not destined for the Academy, one cannot be absolutely certain of his painting notes and Two Brogozzi at anchor in Porto (77/6) certainly describes it, while in June 1878 he was working on Small stormy Venice subject which he describes a few days later as Stormy effect Porto of Venice, they are probably the same.
The dramatic lighting is an unusaly feature of his Venetian views however it demonstrates his awareness of the value of meterological detail to provide variety in subjects which he had been painting for over a quarter of a century. The fishing craft are painted with his usual satisfying fidelity. As John Ruskin wrote of another Cooke painting 'it is admirable true to the Venetian boat - and the Venetian boat and all the ways of it are beautiful'.
We are grateful to John Munday for his help in preparing this catalgoue entry.
As usual with pictures not destined for the Academy, one cannot be absolutely certain of his painting notes and Two Brogozzi at anchor in Porto (77/6) certainly describes it, while in June 1878 he was working on Small stormy Venice subject which he describes a few days later as Stormy effect Porto of Venice, they are probably the same.
The dramatic lighting is an unusaly feature of his Venetian views however it demonstrates his awareness of the value of meterological detail to provide variety in subjects which he had been painting for over a quarter of a century. The fishing craft are painted with his usual satisfying fidelity. As John Ruskin wrote of another Cooke painting 'it is admirable true to the Venetian boat - and the Venetian boat and all the ways of it are beautiful'.
We are grateful to John Munday for his help in preparing this catalgoue entry.