From: Tate Gallery display caption (17-Dec-1993)

Sickert first visited Venice in 1895 and lived and worked there for a year. His response to the city was influenced by the pastel drawings of his teacher, Whistler, who taught him to make quick, tonal sketches in loosely handled colour. This interior shows the High Altar of the Cathedral of San Marco. He wrote to Steer in late 1895 that Venice was 'mostly sunny and warmish and on cold days I do interiors of St. Mark's'.

Like the French Impressionists, Sickert was preoccupied with the effects of both natural and artificial light conveyed in touches of paint. He described his method of working at this time to Steer as 'to work open and loose, freely, with a full brush and full colour.' 

 
Notes:
 

• See the Tate Gallery
• See Overview of Venice
• See more on Cathedral of San Marco