Nearly thirty paintings by thirteen master artists of the golden age of the veduta have gone on display in the Principality. Conceived by veteran art dealer and gallerist Cesare Lampronti, the exhibition Lumières sur la Lagune opened on 23rd September with a press event at Hartford Fine Art – Lampronti Gallery.
As the Monaco Yacht Show brings the global maritime elite to the Principality’s harbour, a parallel voyage across the water unfolds just steps away.
Timed to coincide with the annual gathering, Lumières sur la Lagune establishes an immediate dialogue between the modern superyachts docked outside and the historic lagoons of eighteenth-century Venice captured within.
Sourcing the masters on a global scale
The masterworks, which will be exhibited until 25th November 2026, represent thirteen of the greatest protagonists of 18th-century Venetian view painting, including Canaletto, Bernardo Bellotto, Francesco Guardi, and Michele Marieschi. As Lampronti explained to Monaco Life, assembling this collection was no small task: “As you might expect, this is the fruit of years of dedicated searching—these paintings are notoriously difficult to track down.”
To gather these masterpieces, the gallery sourced works from across the globe—spanning America, England, France, and Italy. The showcase provides a comprehensive cognitive overview of a period when the veduta transformed Venice into a universal cultural image.
Connecting with new collectors in Monaco
The decision to launch the exhibition during the Monaco Yacht Show was a deliberate choice to engage an international audience. Lampronti highlighted the strong synergy between the maritime setting of the yacht show and the nautical themes of Venetian view painting:
“Launching this during the Yacht Show, when the city is so connected to the maritime world, is a wonderful opportunity to present our gallery here. I hope it helps reignite interest in classical collecting, which faces certain challenges in today’s market.”
By placing major works alongside more accessible pieces by lesser-known artists, the gallery aims to inspire a new wave of collecting.
A lifelong dedication to old masters
At 84 years old, Cesare Lampronti looks back on a remarkable 65-year career in the art market. Having started his first gallery at age 19 in Rome on Via del Babbuino, he later expanded internationally by opening a London branch in Duke Street in 2012. Following structural changes in the UK market post-Brexit, Lampronti chose his home of Monaco for the gallery’s newest chapter, opening Hartford Fine Art – Lampronti Gallery in April 2026. Reflecting on his mission, Lampronti shared: “I simply hope to be a strong link in the chain—someone who helps keep the world’s eyes turned toward the beauty of Italian art.”
Masterpiece spotlight: Canaletto’s 1726 Tour de Force
Among the defining highlights that invoke the spirit of the period is Canaletto’s monumental 1726 composition, ‘The French Ambassador’s Arrival in Venice’—depicting the grand reception of Count Jacques-Vincent Languet de Gergy at the Doge’s Palace. Capturing the festivities with analytical precision, the iconic work reflects the absolute pinnacle of Venetian view painting. Describing the magnitude of such masterworks, Lampronti concluded: “It takes a tremendous commitment to secure a piece of this scale. This magnificent painting is truly extraordinary, representing perhaps the most important Canaletto masterwork in existence.”
Whether admiring monumental vistas or intricate architectural details, visitors can experience the exhibition free of charge at Hartford Fine Art – Lampronti Gallery, located at 21 Boulevard Princesse Charlotte in Monaco, until 25th November 2026.
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Cesare Lampronti standing in front of Canaletto’s monumental 1726 composition, ‘The French Ambassador’s Arrival in Venice’. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas