Watercolour; 20×14 cm.
Private collection
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Helen Allingham visited Italy on 3 occasions. Her first trip was as 20 year old Miss Helen Paterson just before she embarked on a career as an illustrator. She returned 33 years later to visit Venice in 1901 and 1902 when she was at the peak of her career. Accompanied by her old friend and fellow artist, Clara Montalba, Mrs Allingham set to work painting views of buildings, canals, market stalls and the Venetians themselves. 

The resulting watercolours formed the majority of paintings at an exhibition of her work at The Fine Art Society in 1904, entitled ‘English Country Life and Venice’. Not only was the artist herself quietly pleased with her Venetian pictures but the art critics too were delighted to see a different side to Allingham’s abilities.