(b Udine, 20 Jan 1663; d Venice, 12 Feb 1730). Italian painter, engraver and architect. ‘The first of any note who painted views of Venice’ was how he was described in 1789 by John Strange (sale catalogue, London, 10 Dec), the British Resident in Venice from 1773. Although Carlevaris was more than simply a view painter, much of his work was certainly in the genre later made popular by Canaletto and Francesco Guardi (see also VEDUTA). Carlevaris’s artistic inclinations were probably inherited from his father, a painter and designer who died when his son was very young. In 1679 Carlevaris moved to Venice and was discovered by the Zenobio family, whose palace was near where he lived. He is said to have made a trip to Rome, from which he returned to Venice in 1698, and while there must have become aware of view paintings and capricci by artists such as Gaspar van Wittel (Vanvitelli). On his return he established himself by painting similar works (e.g. Seaport and Piazzetta; both Udine, Mus. Civ.). In 1703 he published Le fabriche e vedute di Venezia disegnate poste in prospettiva et intagliate da Luca Carlevaris: 104 views of Venice. It was the most complete survey of the fabric of the city ever produced and served as a model for Venetian view painters throughout the 18th century.

• Carlevaris, Luca
  • Italy, §III, 5(vii): Baroque and Rococo painting, c 1600–c 1750: Venice and the Veneto
  • Topography, §2(ii)(a): Descriptive art, after c 1650: The Netherlands and Italy
  • Venice, §II, 4(i): Art life and organization, 1600–1797: Painting
  • assistants
    • Canaletto, §1(i)(b): c 1716–30: Early Venetian townscapes
  • methods
    • Camera obscura
  • patrons and collectors
    • Conti, Stefano
    • Montagu: (2) Charles Montagu, 4th Earl and 1st Duke of Manchester
    • Schulenburg, Johann Matthias
  • works
    • Townscape, §2(ii): Development, c 1650–c 1750: Italy
    • Veduta, §1(i): Venice