William Turner - Approach to Venice Magnet

Approach to Venice, painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1844, captures Venice at a luminous, dreamlike threshold between day and night. A full moon rises as the setting sun still glows over the lagoon, while barges and gondolas move towards the distant city. Painted late in Turner’s career, the work reflects his fascination with Venice and his mastery of atmospheric light, colour and water, with architecture dissolving into a golden haze. This oil on canvas is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.