Venice, the Ducal Palace, the Scala dei Giganti, c.1740 (oil on canvas)

Venice, the Ducal Palace, the Scala dei Giganti, circa 1740(?). The staircase in sun, mounts right of centre. Two gowned men stand towards right, at the foot, a third stands full face, three steps up; a man with baskets stands on the sixth step above him, towards centre; and half way up the flight, a senator in scarlet stands between two men, one bowing. Two men in sunlight stand at the top. Five white and blue awnings seen on the third storey and to right. Three men, two with white bands and wigs, on the balcony. The left foreground court and arcade in deep shadow, left of centre on the edge of the shadow a man, woman and a girl with white shawl over he head, stand in sunlight. Further back, centre, a man seated with back turned, below the balustrade. An archway closes the top corners of the canvas.