Giovanni Antonio Canal, Known as Canaletto: A Venetian Master of Light and City Giovanni Antonio Canal, universally known as Canaletto (1697-1768), stands as a pivotal figure in the history of Western art. Born into a family steeped in theatrical design – his father was a scene painter – Canaletto’s artistic journey began not with grand commissions but with humble beginnings assisting his father and brother, crafting backdrops for Ven…