Accession Number
1955/1.125

Title
The Riva, One of the 'Twelve Etchings,' or the 'First Venice Set'

Artist(s)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1879-1880

Medium & Support
etching and drypoint, printed in dark brown ink on laid paper

Dimensions
7.9 x 11 5/8 in. (20.16 x 29.53 cm)

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Subject matter
When Whistler first arrived in Venice, he took rooms in the Palazzo Rezzonico on the Grand Canal. Those rooms proved too expensive and after Otto Henry Bacher and Frank Duveneck arrived in Venice Whistler and Maud moved to rooms near San Biagio at the Casa Jankovitz, just off the Riva degli Schiavoni. Seen in reverse, this view looks up the Riva towards St. Marks, the domes and campanile tower of which are visible at the far right.

Physical Description
A view of a city along the edge of water sweeps from the foreground towards the right in the distance. Along quays, bridges and promenades can be seen groupoings of people walking and in conversation. Boats populate the water's edge: smaller boats in the foreground, larger multi-masted ships in the distance.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
Cityscapes
Venice
Workers
buildings
canals
groups
rivers
streets
study
walking
water