(Verona 1788–1847 Florence)
Venice, Carneval on the Campo San Giacomo, oil on canvas, 74.5 x 99.5 cm, framed

A certificate of authenticity issued by Fabrizio Magani is available upon request.

The painting invites us to immerse ourselves in everyday Venetian life. We find ourselves in Campo San Giacomo, one of the most popular squares in Venice, before our gaze heads up to the Rialto bridge, which we make out in the background beneath the large bell tower of the church of San Bartolomeo. Everything is happening in the square in front of the church of San Giacomo; carnival masks vie with one another, and mix with the ordinary people and aristocrats captivated by street shows and stalls. Here, someone shows children wonders of the world through the lens of a sort of open-air cinema, there someone is discussing everyday purchases with the fruit and vegetable seller. Over on the left is a circus show, promising animal tamers, horses, bears, ostriches, elephants and bulls, and stunts of all kinds.
We can almost hear the shouts of the hawkers in the famous Venetian square, and continuous chatter follows us into the scene. A quick glance at the clock tells us that it is 3pm. It is likely a Shrove Tuesday. It usually falls between February and early March. In time-honoured tradition, people are making the most of the last opportunity for fun and merriment before the arrival of Lent.