The view shows the Grand Canal looking towards the Cannaregio, with the Church of San Simeone Piccolo on the right and the Church of Santa Lucia on the left. At its sale at Christie’s in 1859 it was thought to be a major picture by Canaletto, described as ‘a very pure and capital work, in a very pure state’, and bought by the 4th Marquess of Hertford. This view was upheld by Claude Phillips, first Keeper of The Wallace Collection, who, in 1900, described it as the finest of all the Canalettos in the Collection. However, although the scene is easily identifiable, it does not occur among Canaletto’s known views of Venice, thus suggesting an artist consciously attempting to differentiate his work from that of Canaletto. That such an ambitious picture should remain unattributed emphaisies how little is known of the minor followers of Canaletto.