Venice by Moonlight

Venice by Moonlight is a masterful example of the moonlit scenes that earned Henry, along with his father Abraham and brother Sebastian, the nickname ‘Moonlight Pethers’. Looking out over the water from the Punta della Dogana towards San Giorgio Maggiore in the background, boats are moored quietly in the foreground. A couple of gondoliers sit in their boats, while two others exchange a few words- one from the shore and one just mooring- perhaps comparing trade from that day's work. A few other figures are also visible, under the arches of the Dogana building, either returning late home or starting their day early. The Punta della Dogana is where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Cana and was a point used for docking and customs, though today houses an art museum and positioned Venice as a key trading port between Europe and the rest of the world.

Pether captures the luminosity of the full moon, its bright reflection in the surrounding clouds and calm waters below, along with the tones and colours of the buildings shrouded in darkness. Pether paints in exquisite detail the reflection of the moonlight on the two statues of Atlas holding a golden globe, on which Fortune stands which sits atop the Dogana da Mar building. The gilded ensemble was intended to act as a lighthouse for ships entering the Bacino San Marco, with the figure of Fortune able to turn in the wind, further aiding the passage of sailors. The group was built by Bernardo Falconi to represent the supremacy of Venice as the premier trading port in the world.

Pether's evocative use of halftones and accents, with his subtle colouring that mark him out as one of the finest painters of 19th century nightscapes. The careful rendering of the architectural details reflect Pether’s excellent draftsmanship and attention to detail and differentiate his works from that of his father and brother. The moored Merchant ships are also rendered in minute detail, their cargo waiting to be loaded on the shore.

Henry Pether

Henry Pether was an English landscape painter born in 1800, famous for his depiction of moonlight scenes of 19th century Britain, Paris and Venice. His father Abraham and older brother Sebastian were also artists and known for their moonlight scenes and together the three of them were known as the 'Moonlight Pethers'. However, Henry's works tended to be more realistic, whilst those of his father and brother are often imaginary.

Pether was known for his paintings along the Thames, painting numerous scenes along the river between 1850 and 1865. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, British Institution and Royal Society of Artists. His works are among the collections of Tate, the City of London, Royal Museums Greenwich, Hastings Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Yale Centre for British Art.

Henry's talents were not limited to painting alone and he was described as a surveyor, engineer, artist and architect, applying for patents for lamps, architectural materials and tiles, the latter of these being exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Pether passed away on 20th February 1880, a few days after his 80th birthday.