Plate 14: View of the facade of St. Moses church, Venice, 1703, from "The buildings and views of Venice" (Le fabriche e vedute di Venezia)

Art Historical Context

**Plate 14: View the Facade of St. Moses Church, Venice1703)** This etching captures the ornate Baroque facade of San Moisè al Mare, a striking church in Venice's heart, framed by the bustling Grand Canal with boats dotting the water. Created by Luca Carlevar, a master of *vedute*—precise, topographical views of cities—and etched by Alessandro Tremignon, hails from the seminal series *Le fabriche vedute di Venezia*The Buildings and Views of Venice), published in 1703. At just over 8 by 11 inches, this plate exemplifies early 18th-century printmaking, where intricate lines convey architectural grandeur and everyday Venetian life. Carlevaris, often hailed as the "father of the Venetian veduta," pioneered this genre with his meticulous attention to detail, paving the way for later artists like Canaletto. Etching allowed these views to be widely disseminated, turning Venice's splendor into affordable souvenirs for Grand Tour travelers. The church's flamboyant facade, adorned with sculptures and columns, reflects the city's opulent Baroque style, blending faith and spectacle amid gondolas and merchants. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to the Bequest of Phyllis Massar (2011), this print invites us to stroll Venice's watery streets, evoking the Republic's golden age of trade and artistry. A window into a timeless lagoon city! (198 words)