This is a sumptuous exhibition, set in The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Recently I attended a private dinner at Buckingham Palace. As we waited for our hosts to arrive guests were allowed to roam freely around The Queen’s Gallery, and what an extraordinarily beautiful and varied collection of pictures it is. I love Canaletto so the huge number of his pictures hanging in the gallery was a special treat. Now The Queen’s Gallery has put on a dedicated show of his work, running from now until 12 November 2017, titled Canaletto and the Art of Venice.

This is an eye-watering exhibition of some of the most beautiful paintings ever produced of the most beautiful city in the world. Alongside Canaletto there is work by Sebastiano, Marco Ricci, Francesco Zuccarelli, Rosalba Carriera, Pietro Longhi, and Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. Between them they cover the joys and wonders of Eighteenth Century Venice – in all its vibrancy and energy. They capture the festivals, carnival and theatrical productions that were on offer. St Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal are star attractions, then as they are now. Recently it has been suggested St Mark’s Square has become so overrun by tourists that there is a need to make it a ticket only zone, to regulate the number of people passing through. Venetians are so concerned about the rising prices and falling numbers of full-time residents in the city have long complained about the impact of tourism. One thing this glorious exhibition shows very clearly is that heaving squares and over-crowded streets is not a new experience for the city and its inhabitants.

The works on display were purchased by King George III in 1762 from Canaletto’s agent and dealer Joseph Smith, who also doubled up as the British Consul in Venice. It was a shrewd investment in a living artist because this huge collection must now be almost priceless.

The exhibition opens with a series of drawings demonstrating various styles and approaches, then moves onto paintings. Canaletto is famous for his precise attention to detail, but there are fascinating examples here of a more impressionistic and less literal side to his work. Indeed it is the variety of work on offer here that distinguishes this exhibition.

It is a sumptuous exhibition in a grand setting of a collection of drawings and paintings that demonstrate exquisite detail, colour and breadth of approach. This exhibition is a good visit for those who have a well established interest in this area of art as well as those who have not engaged very closely before. It is a good visit for families too, because there is much here for younger people to engage with and appreciate. In short this exhibition is well worth a visit.