Titles

Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) listed this in 1905 as 'Venice Sunset on the Rialto' but Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) changed it to 'Venice Sunrise on the Rialto' after he bought it. The view, however, does not show the Rialto, and whether this shows sunrise or sunset is not entirely clear. The sun would rise, as usual, in the east, to left of the artist, and could be setting beyond Sta Maria della Salute and the Grand canal. In both cases, the glow could spread over the whole panorama. It is likely that Whistler saw more sunsets than sunrises! A variation on the first published title is preferred, namely Venice: Sunset (omitting the reference to the Rialto). 1

Site

Venice: Sunset, Freer Gallery of Art

Venice, Italy. A view of Santa Maria della Salute to left of centre, the Grand canal and, at right, the campanile and Doge's Palace, seen from the Casa Jankowitz on the Riva degli Schiavoni. 2