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Notes
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This painting shows the inside of the famous rotunda (demolished in 1805) at Ranelagh Gardens in Chelsea. Ranelegh opened in 1742 as one of London’s most prestigious pleasure gardens, and its main attraction was this vast circular building in which fashionable society could attend balls and listen to music. To the right, an orchestra performs, catching the attention of a small crowd. We look down on the elegant clientele, which, along with the light that floods the space, emphasises the building’s loftiness. Canaletto’s theatrical lighting highlights the curvature of the building and sparkles on the delicate chandeliers. We aren't just watching the concert – we watch the men, women and children scattered across an enormous stage. Canaletto painted this work in 1754, towards the end of his nine years in England.
Title
London: Interior of the Rotunda at Ranelagh
Date
1754
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 47 x W 75.6 cm
Accession number
NG1429
Acquisition method
Bought, 1894
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
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