St. Mark's Square - Limited edition print

When painting a place as iconic as Venice’s Piazza San Marco, it’s easy to fall into the usual postcard views—the wide, formal shots of the grand basilica or the sweeping panorama of the square. But for this piece, Breakfast at San Marco, I wanted to find a perspective that felt more personal, something that captured not just the grandeur of the architecture, but the human experience that fills it with life.

I chose to position myself closer to the oceanfront, looking back toward the Basilica and the square from the bank. From this angle, the Doge’s Palace and the Biblioteca Marciana became even more magnificent. Their full scale and elegant repetition stretched across the composition, framing the main subject - St Mark's Basilica - in the distance.

Yet, in contrast to that weighty history, the foreground tells a different story — one of everyday joy. A scattering of tables, chairs, and relaxed figures at the waterfront cafés became the heartbeat of the scene. The vibrant red tablecloths and umbrellas serve as a compositional device, guiding the viewer’s eye into the painting, pulling them toward the Basilica.

Painting this piece was a reminder of what makes Venice so special: it’s not just a city of breathtaking monuments, but a place where memories are made and human bond is strengthened.