GIOVANNI GRUBACS (ITALIAN, 1829-1919)

In the present lot, Giovanni Grubacs captures the view from the Ponte dell’Academia looking down the Grand Canal towards Santa Maria della Salute. Like many Venetian artists, Grubacs was influenced by the likes of Francesco Guardi and Canaletto. This can be seen in the way Grubacs skillfully captures the effects of light on the architecture, and the shadows and reflections cast on the water.
Grubacs’ ability to accurately capture Venice’s architecture and the atmosphere of the city suggests that Venice was not solely a subject of study for him but also his home. Indeed, the Grubacs family, originally from the small town of Perasto, Montenegro, moved to Venice in the second half of the 18th century. It is this affection for his home that is clearly conveyed in this composition.