In 1910 Cadell went to Venice. The strong light, reflections off the rippling canals and vivid colours of the Adriatic port keyed up Cadell’s existing impressionistic tendencies to a new pitch. It was in Venice that Cadell became a colourist. This is a view from the Pensione de la Calcina across the Zattere towards the island of La Guidecca. The use of the French window to frame a well-known view adds structure to the painting and contrast between the shaded interior and the brightly lit, colourful canal beyond. This, throughout the 19th century, had been a favourite pictorial device for artists, but had been particularly popular with the French fauve painters such as Matisse in the early 20th century.