Francesco Albotto

Each year, during the feast of the Ascension, the Venetians celebrated the Doge's marriage to the sea, bringing out the Bucintoro, the processional barge whose appearance is so distinctive.

The subject has been painted many times by various Venetian artists, including Canaletto (1697–1768) and Michele Marieschi (1710–1744). Francesco Albotto was one of Marieschi's closest pupils: he called himself il secondo Marieschi – and even married his master's widow. After Marieschi's death, Albotto continued the production of his vedute, and even tried to pass some of his own paintings off as those of the elder artist, sometimes signing them.

As a result, for a long time his works were confused with those of Marieschi, whose technique and views he adopted: he became so skilled at this that the two hands are often difficult to tell apart.

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Chaque année, lors des fêtes de l'Ascension, les Vénitiens célèbrent le mariage du Doge avec la mer, en exhibant le Bucentaure, bateau de parade à la silhouette bien caractéristique.

Ce sujet a été traité à maintes reprises par différents artistes vénitiens, parmi lesquels Canaletto (1697-1768), ou encore Michele Marieschi (1710-1744).

Francesco Albotto est l'un des plus proches élèves de Marieschi : il se fait appeler il secondo Marieschi... et en épouse même la veuve ! A la mort de son maître, Albotto perpétue ses vedute, cherchant lui-même à faire passer certains de ses tableaux pour ceux de son aîné, parfois en les signant.

Ainsi, pendant longtemps, ses œuvres ont été confondues avec celles de Marieschi, dont il empreinte la technique, et les perspectives, parvenant sur ce point à une maîtrise telle, que les deux mains sont souvent difficiles à distinguer...