Having graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1958,
Howard ventured to Italy where he travelled from region to region, painting
Tuscan landscapes, Florentine architecture, and developing a life-long
fascination for Venice. In his primary visits to the city, Howard predominantly
painted with watercolour, shifting to oil much later. Rio della Misericordio
is a fine example of Howard’s Venetian works: sunlight brushes the surface of
the water, which, flanked by recognisable Venetian architecture, reflects a bright
blue sky. Painting this canal, Howard offers a serene and authentic perspective
of Venice, straying from his usual bustling depictions of sights such as San
Marco.