an Italian painter of landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching. Canaletto, together with Giambattista Pittoni, Giovan Battista Tiepolo, Giovan Battista Piazzetta, Giuseppe Crespi and Francesco Guardi forms the ultimate group of Venetian old master painters. He is noted particularly for his highly detailed paintings of cities, esp Venice, which are marked by strong contrasts of light and shade.
