The Venetian - Overview

Working with a leading US interior design company we were asked to supply three hundred museum quality paintings of Venice scenes - with an extremely tight deadline!

The Specifications

Half a dozen different paintings were chosen, but to make matters more complicated some of these were to be done in a variety of sizes, meaning we had to crop and/or add detail for the different versions.

We also had a very tight deadline, a major concern when the paintings - mainly by Canaletto - are difficult and time consuming to produce at the best of times.

Early Days

First we established which were to be the source images for the artists to work from, and submitted a variety of templates for the paintings that were to be done in sizes that did not match the originals in terms of height/width ratios. We also began clearing the artists - schedules and brought some of our part time artists, who specialize in this style of painting, in house so that we could oversee production and make sure the right level of quality was being reached. Once the templates were agreed we started work.

Work Continues

As the paintings began to be completed, and dried, we dispatched them in batches so that framing could be done by the company chosen by the interior designer (their client was very particular about the style). This helped speed up the process as the framer was not faced with the task of framing 300 paintings all at once, but instead was able to spread the work over some weeks. It also demonstrates our willingness to move heaven and earth to meet deadlines - the Venetian was set to open, and all concerned knew that the opening date of the US$1.8 billion project was not going to be moved for anyone!

Conclusion

The paintings were all completed on time, and to the great satisfaction of the designer. We've since had the chance to see the art hanging in the Venetian, always a real reward. Reports from other visitors who've seen the art have been universally positive as well!