Having spent many years studying and painting St Mark’s
Basilica, Ken Howard’s confidence and mastery shines through in this grand and
impressive oil. Within this piece, there is an astonishing sense of unity both
in tone and composition. Standing in front of St Mark’s, and a trinity of domes,
the Italian flag is flanked by two Venetian flags, the reds in which harmonise
with the earth tones in the ground, architecture and sky. Simultaneously, St
Mark’s is reflected laterally onto the rain-washed square, cleverly filling the
elongated canvas with the subject matter. Collectively, the scale, medium,
flags, tones and composition, highlight Howard’s acute recollection of St Mark’s,
and transform this painting in a celebration of Howard’s Venice.

The painting comes from a private collection, having been commissioned by the present owners, it has never been displayed in public before.