Calm Before the Storm?

A New Interpretation of Two Seascapes by Lorenzo Butti in the Belvedere

Abstract

This essay focuses on two seascapes from the Belvedere collection by the painter Lorenzo Valentino Butti (1805–1860; born in the port city of Trieste) that were completed in 1846: Seestück mit Scirocco [Seascape in the Sirocco] and Stürmische See auf seichtem Grund bei Malamocco [Stormy Seas in Shallow Waters near Malamocco]. While the first painting was presented as an example of the romantic mythologization of Venice in the exhibition Viva Venezia! (Belvedere, 2022), this analysis shows that both works are far more than mere decorative harbor scenes and were conceived by Butti as a pair, in both thematic and formal terms. By studying the richly detailed depiction of a range of ships, flags, and weather conditions—supported by iconographic close reading, archival research, contemporary press sources, biographical records, and maritime expertise—we connect the works with concrete historical events that occurred in 1844. An analysis of the specific description of the image and the meteorological conditions that it portrays obliges us to not only correct the title Seestück mit Scirocco by reverting to the original title, Seestück mit Sciroccal-Luft [Seascape with Sirocco Air], but also conclusively revise the location from Venice to Trieste. The commission from Emperor Ferdinand I during his visit to Trieste in 1844 appears to have had a dual purpose: The paintings not only document maritime incidents but also present the imperial claim to power of the Habsburg monarchy. The works also ultimately provided Butti an opportunity to enhance his image on the path toward becoming a marine painter to the imperial court.