Framed Gondola Art

Some gondolas used to be fitted with the venetian blinds to protect the tourists from bad weather and even though they were removed, there are still framed gondola prints featuring those boats. Navigating the narrow Venetian canals on board of such a vessel is a treat for the passengers, but quite a challenge for the gondoliers. They require a lot of skill and experience to find their way around without crashing into other vessels or block the waterways.

In the 18th century, the number of gondolas exceeded 8000, but their number has shrunk to a few hundreds and nowadays they are used almost exclusively for touristic purposes. Some of the best framed gondola prints depict those vessels used for weddings and other special event such as racing. The early versions of the gondola were slightly bigger and required two rowers, but its shape and size changed radically in the 19th century and the newer version endured.