Campo dei Frari, Venice

John Singer Sargent

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a sunlit plaza with low steps leading to water at the bottom of the scene. The horizon is marked by rooftops of buildings, including a large red church on the right with round windows and an arched entrance. A few people stand in front of the church in the distance, indicated with small strokes of paint. Two people are present in the center of the painting, at the top of the steps that lead to the water - one standing and another seated on the steps. We can't see their faces, but they appear to have pale skin and wear dresses with shawls in shades of red, blue, white, and tan. The buildings are mostly in shades of cream and tan, and the sky above is mostly white with some hints of pale blue. The water at the bottom is gray, with some parts reflecting the white and blue of the sky. The brushstrokes are soft and visible, giving the scene a hazy appearance.