An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
The Bronze Horses of San Marco, Venice1876
Artist: Charles Caryl Coleman
American, 1840 - 1928
Landscape. Architecture.
40 1/4 × 32 1/2 in. (102.2 × 82.6 cm) (canvas)
57 1/2 × 50 × 6 1/2 in. (146.1 × 127 × 16.5 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
United States
19th century
Gift of the Regis Collection
In the tranquil embrace of Italy, a new chapter began for Charles Caryl Coleman, an American artist whose heart found its home among the ancient stones of Rome. It was in 1866 when he planted his creative roots in the quaint Via Margutta, a street that would hum with the whispers of artists and dreamers for generations to come. Here, among the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the vibrant shutters, he conjured visions and breathed life into canvases.
As summer unfurled its warm arms, Coleman would leave the serenity of his studio, journeying to the enchanting city of Venice. It was a pilgrimage of sorts, one that led him through the cobbled streets and along the shimmering canals where the echoes of the old masters lingered. He wandered, soaking in the artistry of those who had come before him, their essence blending with the vibrant hues of the Venetian sun.
One day, inspired by the elegance around him, Coleman crafted a composition that offered a unique perspective of the renowned Basilica of San Marco. His brush danced across the canvas, capturing the striking bronze horses that stood upon the grand porch, witness to centuries of history, stories waiting to be told. They gleamed regally in the light, while above them, the majestic Clocktower loomed like a sentinel—its upper section towering over the bustling Piazza San Marco below.
In this moment, captured forever by Coleman's careful strokes, one could feel the heartbeat of Venice—the gentle lapping of water against its stone, the distant laughter of lovers, and the solemnity of history standing still. Here, in this peaceful panorama, art breathed, stories flourished, and the spirit of creativity thrived under the timeless Mediterranean sky.
About the artist
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