Alberto Salietti (Ravenna 1892 – Chiavari 1961)
Venice, 1932
Oil on panel
49.5 × 59.5 cm
In frame 70 × 80 cm
Signed and dated lower left: Salietti 1932
The work depicts a view of the Venetian lagoon, captured with a concise and vibrant eye, in which the atmospheric quality prevails over minute descriptive detail. In the foreground lies a stretch of water animated by various types of boats: gondolas, small boats, and, above all, imposing military vessels that dominate the composition.
In the background, one recognizes the unmistakable silhouette of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, with its slender bell tower and Palladian church, rendered through simplified color fields and warm tones that contrast with the aquatic greens and blues of the lagoon.
The scene is bathed in a diffused, almost milky light that softens the contours and unifies the elements into a lyrical, suspended vision.
The brushwork is rapid, fragmented, and built up with concise strokes.
The inclusion of military ships introduces an element of modernity and visual tension, contrasting with traditional Venetian iconography. This dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary is one of the most interesting aspects of the work.
By 1932, Alberto Salietti was fully immersed in the artistic climate of the Italian Novecento, a movement also promoted by Margherita Sarfatti, which aimed for a synthesis between modernity and tradition.
