Canaletto: The Grand Canal in Venice Canaletto is undoubtedly the most outstanding of the 18th-century Venetian view painters. View paintings or vedute depicting panoramic views of the city and its surrounding areas depicted with topographical accuracy were highly prized by the travellers and art lovers who made the Grand Tour. This lengthy trip to France as well as Italy was an essential part of the education of many English aristocrats in the 18th century. Like other visitors to Italy, they considered these view paintings to provide the ideal record of their youthful adventure. This masterpiece is located in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.