Giovanni Antonio Canal

(Venice, Republic of Venice, October 28, 1697 – April 19, 1768, Venice)

Giovanni Antonio Canal (Venice, Republic of Venice, October 28, 1697 – April 19, 1768, Venice), better known as Canaletto, was a Venetian artist famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching.

He was a son of the painter Bernardo Canal, hence his mononym Canaletto ("little Canal"). His nephew and pupil Bernardo Bellotto was also an accomplished landscape painter, with a similar painting style, and sometimes used the name "Canaletto" to advance his own career, particularly in countries—Germany and Poland—where his uncle was not active.

Canaletto was born in Venice on October 28, 1697, to Bernardo Canal and Artemisia Barbieri, and served his apprenticeship with his father and his brother. He began in his father's occupation, that of a theatrical scene painter. Canaletto was inspired by the Roman vedutista Giovanni Paolo Pannini, and started painting the daily life of the city and its people.