Se col sudor si acquista e dolce il pane - Fabio Berardi

A detailed eighteenth-century etching by Fabio Berardi after Canaletto, capturing a serene, atmospheric view of a Venetian canal-side dwelling.

This etching, executed by the Italian printmaker Fabio Berardi, reproduces a composition by the Venetian master Canaletto. The work belongs to the tradition of the veduta, or view painting, which gained immense popularity among European travellers during the eighteenth century. Berardi demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the copper plate, employing a range of hatching and cross-hatching techniques to translate the atmospheric effects and architectural clarity of the original painting into a monochrome medium.

The scene depicts a quiet corner of the Venetian lagoon, far removed from the grand public squares of the city. A modest dwelling sits at the water's edge, where laundry hangs to dry and figures attend to daily tasks. The inclusion of a bell tower in the background provides a vertical anchor to the composition, while the calm water reflects the soft light of a cloudy sky. The title, inscribed at the base, translates to 'If one earns bread with sweat, it is sweet,' a moralising sentiment that contrasts with the idyllic, leisurely appearance of the setting.

Berardi was a skilled interpreter of Canaletto's work, often collaborating with the publisher Joseph Wagner. His prints were instrumental in disseminating the aesthetic of the Venetian school across the continent. The composition balances the structural rigour of the buildings with the fluid, organic forms of the water and sky. The attention to detail, from the ripples on the surface of the canal to the texture of the stone walls, reveals the high level of craftsmanship expected of professional printmakers in the mid-eighteenth century. This print offers a glimpse into the everyday life of Venice, capturing a moment of stillness that defines the charm of the lagoon city.