Because no city has an aura as multifaceted as Venice (at once romantic, mysterious, grandiose, and spectacular), it has fascinated every era across the entire world.
Today, you can find postcards and photos of the Serenissima in abundance, but what the new exhibition at the Musée Maillol offers us is a Venice that is both similar to the one we know today and a testament to a bygone century.
The Musée Maillol has been exhibiting works by Canaletto, the most famous of the 18th-century Venetian vedutisti, since September 19, 2012, and will continue to do so until February 10, 2013.
If you have never had the chance to visit this magnificent city, this is your opportunity to discover it as it appeared to the eyes of an 18th-century traveler. For those who already know the city, it provides the chance to see it through a different lens.
Furthermore, the section dedicated to drawings displays Canaletto’s famous sketchbook, dating from around 1731, which is one of the city of Venice’s treasures and has exceptionally left the Cabinet of Drawings at the Gallerie dell’ Accademia for the duration of the exhibition. Visitors can admire it open (the pages are turned every week), as well as browse through it virtually.
I also really appreciated the reconstruction of Canaletto’s camera obscura, which served as his visual memory aid and apparently played a central role in his creative process.
The museum also boasts a very charming restaurant-tea room in the basement, La Cortigiana, perfect for a gourmet break before or after your visit.
Musée Maillol – Fondation Dina Vierny 59/61, rue de Grenelle 75007 Paris Entry price: €11 Reduced rate: €9 (Members of the Maison des Artistes, job seekers with proof less than 2 months old, large families, people with disabilities, youths aged 11 to 25, RMI beneficiaries, art teachers) Good deal: the museum is free for children under 11, holders of the ICOM/ICOMOS card, licensed tour guides, and journalists
