Stefan Bleekrode
b.1986 | Dutch

Prospectus Magni Canalis Venetianum
(View of the Great Venetian Canal)

Black ink and watercolor on paper
Signed and dated "S. Bleekrode '21-'22" (upper left); Titled "Prospectus Magni Canalis Venetianum" (lower right)

This impressive composition of the great sites of Venice was created by the celebrated Dutch artist Stefan Bleekrode. The work takes a bird's-eye view, giving it a unique perspective of Venice's famed structures and winding canals. Historic buildings line the Grand Canal and extend into the distance in a dizzying maze of architecture. Executed with an extraordinary level of detail, the work reveals Bleekrode's mastery of perspective and light as he deftly captures in perfect detail the character of this beloved city.

The Dutch artist was born in 1986 and only recently pursued a full-time career as an artist. As a child around the age of 10, Bleekrode began his pursuit of perfecting the cityscape, creating birds-eye perspective drawings of architecture in pencil. In 2002, he traded pencil for ink, and around that same time fell under the influence of the works of American artist Edward Hopper. Hopper's desolate and thought-provoking artworks inspired Bleekrode's first full-scale cityscape. Shortly thereafter, he quickly gained renown for the exceptional level of detail and fascinating perspective imparted in his works.

Dated 2021-22