Venice: 03/04/09
I have a list of places I want to visit. Venice is on it and has probably been on it longer than any other place. My love affair with Venice began when I was about two or three with a trip to the San Diego Museum of Art where I saw The Molo from the Bacino di San Marco, Venice, 1748 by Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal). The cityscape captured the most magical place I had ever seen and I was amazed to learn that it was a real place.

I have a friend through BookCrossing who travels to Italy a couple times a year. She shares with us her books about and set in Italy. Her most recent shared book is a lovely essay and art collaboration from 1965 called Venice. It contains a series of excerpts that are part poetry and part essay written by Adrian Stokes. These sections are illustrated by the energetic pen sketches by John Piper.

The John Piper plates by themselves are just hints at the architectural wonders in Venice but they come to life when combined with Adrian Stokes's descriptions. Stokes's text comes from these books:

• The Quattro Cento (1932)
• Stones of Riminui (1934)
  
• Colour and Form (1937)
  
• Venice: an Aspect of Art (1945)
  
• Art and Science (1949)
  
• Smooth and Rough (1951)

The Molo from the Bacino di San Marco, Venice, 1748

books | nonfiction | Adrian Stokes | John Piper | 1965

Comments (0)

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Comment #1: Thursday, March, 5, 2009 at 08:34:55

Nancy

Venice is AWESOME! It looks like the painting! Hubby and I went 2 yrs. ago w/parents. Flew into Venice and did a cruise all the down and around & up to Nice France. Fabulous - everday was a new adventure on the coast of Italy or inland trips ~ I can't wait to go back. Hope you get a chance someday to go!!

Comment #2: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 16:07:55

Pussreboots

I will some day. My husband has been and he wants to show me all the places he has seen. We just need to wait for his new job to get started, pay off some debt and then get passports for the kids.

Comment #3: Thursday, March, 5, 2009 at 14:11:55

Auntie E

I have been to Venice Twice. I love it. Must be something about it floating all by it self. The food was wonderful. Riding the boat taxi from island to Island was a great experience. Bought a lot of goods. Still have the Venicean chandelier. I would love to go back.

Comment #4: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 16:11:55

Pussreboots

I don't know if I'd buy anything beyond postcards. I'm not much of a shopper. But I would take tons of photographs.

Comment #5: Thursday, March, 5, 2009 at 18:07:38

stacy

My husband and I went to Italy last year and Venice was by far my favorite city. It is a magical place.

Comment #6: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 16:13:23

Pussreboots

It certainly looks magical from afar. Thanks for sharing.