On the Grand Canal, Venice

Following an extended residence in the city, Halswelle held an exhibition in 1875 entitled Twelve Months in Venice, in which the present painting may have been included. He described his working methods to the Art Journal critic: 'I determined to employ my time in the gondola in endeavouring to delineate under a summer aspect some of those beautiful and unique views so familiar to all who have had the happiness of visiting this wonderful city of the sea...now they are gathered together, they will be found to embrace most of the well-known points on the Grand Canal and Lagoons' (Art Journal, 1875, p. 16).