An attractive canal scene featuring the Ducal Palace, Venice by Alfred Pollentine. The view is taken close to the mouth of the Grand Canal towards The Ducal or Doge’s Palace and the Molo. To the left of the Palace on the Molo, can be seen the two columns of St Mark and St Theodore at St Mark’s Square. The columns marked the original entrance used by officials and distinguished visitors to Venice.

Alfred William Pollentine was born in St Pancras, London on 26 August 1844, the son of William Pollentine, a carver gilder and picture dealer and Caroline Smith. After the death of his father in 1856, his mother married the artist Adam Barland (fl. 1843-1875). They lived at Upper Newbury Place and later Lillian Street in St Pancras.

Pollentine had established himself as an artist by the age of 16 and it is highly likely he was encouraged and tutored by Barland who influenced his style. He exhibited at the British Institute, Suffolk Street and the Royal Society of British Artists from 1861-1880. Initially, he painted landscape subjects similar to his stepfather and coastal scenes but later began to specialise in topographical views of Venice.

He married Emma Tautz on 13 September 1877 and together they lived at 51 Tollington Place, Islington with their children. By 1886, they had moved to 4 Chestnut Villas in Tottenham and by 1895 were living at 4 Liston Road. Whilst he spent most of his life in London, he did travel to France and Italy visiting the Amalfi Coast, Naples and Venice. He died on 16 March 1910 at Edmonton, aged 67.

Pollentine’s attention to detail and use of subtle palette help capture the atmosphere of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Examples of his paintings can be found at the Herbert Art Gallery and the Laing Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art