See the stunning sights of Venice at the Cooper Gallery this autumn

As the summer sun begins to fade, the light, colour and warmth of Venice sails into the Cooper Gallery this autumn with the arrival of their latest exhibition.

Venice, Paradise of Cities opens on Saturday, 14 September and is a celebration of the romantic location, held dear by many.  The opening also coincides with the bicentenary of the birth of John Ruskin, whose work the Cooper Gallery is proud to preserve in its outstanding collection. Ruskin fell in love with the city, which was an inspiration for many artists, and depicted its beauty through a series of sketches and paintings captured over three decades.

The exquisite exhibition, which is free to enter, tells the story of Venice through the eyes of the artists who painted some of its most iconic scenes.  People will experience the city’s architecture, landscapes and history through work from the Cooper Gallery collection as well as from numerous loans from around the UK. 

From the legendary work of Canaletto, through Victorian vistas, to the experimentation of 20th century artists, visitors to the Gallery will experience the sights of the Doge’s Palace, the famous Grand Canal as well as wonders such as Piazza San Marco in this unique display.

Alongside the exhibition will be an activity programme of events for all ages.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place (Regeneration and Culture) says:

The Cooper Gallery has an outstanding art collection featuring masterpieces from world class artists.  The story of how these pieces of art were donated to the town is fascinating, and we are extremely lucky that we can host such beautiful paintings, drawing and sculptures for people to enjoy.  Once again the Cooper Gallery has risen way beyond expectations, creating this stunning exhibition at the Gallery and along with it offering a glimpse into one of the most stunning cities in the world.