A Closer Look at Eyewitness Views: Take a Trip Through 18th Century Europe

The paintings in CMA’s special exhibition Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe focus on historic events in Europe’s most magnificent cities.

Each masterwork transports the viewer back in time to witness historic events like the visit of an important ambassador or the eruption of a volcano. To enhance the experience, the CMA created a gallery guide that allows visitors to take a self-guided tour through the exhibition. Read below to take a closer look at three of these incredible paintings, and check out the complete gallery guide here.

Check out this incredible view of the Grand Canal to see some of Venice’s most famous landmarks. On this day, an important bishop is making his official entry into the city. The occasion is marked by a parade on the water, and spectators throng the banks and bridge to catch a glimpse. In order to create a more eye-catching view, the artist deliberately manipulated this portion of the Grand Canal to make it look like the waterway makes a 180-degree turn when it really does not.

1) Rialto Bridge

Looking for a higher vantage point? Get to the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge over the Grand Canal and one of the city’s most well-known landmarks. You might also want to visit some of the exclusive shops lining the bridge!

2) Palazzo di Camerlenghi

This magnificent palace, finished in 1488, was the location of many Venetian financial officials. It’s easy to spot, located right next to the Rialto Bridge. Don’t miss its tall windows and decorative columns, visible from the canal.

3) Patriarch

The guest of honor in this festive procession is Francesco Antonio Correr, the new patriarch of Venice. In the Catholic Church, patriarchs are the highest ranking bishops. Correr sits in his decorative barge beneath an elaborate canopy. He’s about to disembark by the steps at the foot of the bridge to continue the procession on foot.

4) Parade Gondolas

Head to the banks of the Grand Canal to see the decorated parade gondolas, each one rowed by attendants in matching costumes.

Get to Saint Peter’s Basilica to see the Duc de Choiseul, the French ambassador to Rome. Spot his retinue in the cavernous space, and check out the chapels and decorations adorning the interior of the building.

1) Kneeling Parishioners

A side chapel in the foreground, dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple, is a gathering place for parishioners to kneel and pray.

2) Heraldic Flags

Look up! Painted gonfalons, heraldic flags or banners, were hung from the balcony of the basilica to mark the holy year of 1750.

3) Baldachin

Don’t miss the bronze canopy, or baldachin, sitting over the high altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica! The baldachin is directly under the dome of the basilica. Designed by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, it marks the place of Saint Peter’s tomb underneath.

4) Duc du Choiseul

Check out the French duke in his lavish gold waistcoat! He’s strolling along with a cardinal, dressed in red, nearby.

5) Saint Teresa

Although Panini painted the interior of Saint Peter’s many times, he kept up with changes to the building’s décor. This statue of Saint Teresa of Avila was installed in 1754.

6) Public Space

If you like to people watch you’ve come to the right place. This interior view of Saint Peter’s includes people of different social classes who’ve come to this public space of worship. Here two people ask for offerings while one appears to reprimand them and two others ignore the interaction altogether.

Get a place at the waterfront to see King Charles III sail off to Spain with the Spanish Armada! After the death of King Ferdinand VI of Spain, his half-brother Charles resigned from his position as King of Naples to assume the Spanish throne, leaving from the bay of his adopted home with much fanfare.

1) Castelnuovo

For a bird’s-eye view of the king’s departure, climb the steps to the top of Castelnuovo. This medieval military fortress was built on the Bay of Naples in 1279.

2) Vesuvius

Look out for Mt. Vesuvius across the bay! Artist Antonio Joli painted this scene in 1759, one year before Vesuvius erupted in 1760; the volcano is already showing signs of fiery activity.

3) Molo Lighthouse

This picturesque lighthouse on the pier, or molo, was built by Ferdinand of Aragon in the 1400s. When the port of Naples was modernized in the 1930s the lighthouse was destroyed.

4) Spanish Armada

Sixteen Spanish ships were sent to escort Charles III from Naples to Spain. The large number of ships was a demonstration of the power of Spain’s mighty navy.

5) Sorrento Peninsula

Overlooking the Bay of Naples, you have the perfect vantage point to check out some of the region’s geography. The land jutting out into the sea directly beyond Vesuvius is the Sorrento Peninsula, a popular modern tourist destination.

6) Prime Minister, Marquis of Tanucci

Get to the front of the crowd to see the Marquis of Tanucci, prime minister of Naples. The marquis has a cozy seat in an ornate carriage, protected from the roar of the crowd.

7) Capri

Off the western tip of the Sorrento Peninsula is the island of Capri. This serene spot has been a resort destination since the time of the Romans!