A Fortune Teller at Venice

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Fortune tellers were a popular attraction during the Venetian Carnival, celebrated during the 40 days of Lent. The one here is reading the palm of a fashionable lady; a fruit seller with a full basket stops to watch and a masked figure leans forward for a closer look. One woman, however, stares intensely towards us.

Longhi has placed the scene in one of the arcades of the Doge’s Palace. The inscription on the pillar probably refers to Francesco Loredan, who was elected Doge of Venice in 1752. On the wall behind, another inscription relates to the election of a priest for the parish of San Trovaso. Compared to the muted background, the foreground has plenty of patterns and textures, like the fortune teller’s embroidered skirt and her client’s lace shawl and flowing dress.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Fortune Teller at Venice

Date

about 1756

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 59.1 x W 48.6 cm

Accession number

NG1334

Acquisition method

Bought, 1891

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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