Journey to 18th-century Venice through a captivating selection of paintings created by the foremost Venetian view painters of the time: Canaletto and Francesco Guardi. Join us for an engaging discussion that will not only reveal why Venice was such a popular destination for Grand Tourists, but will illuminate the historical significance of the Wallace Collection’s paintings and invite us to reflect on Venice's enduring allure.

About the speaker: Dr Lelia Packer was Curator of Paintings at the Wallace Collection between 2017 and 2024. During her time here, she curated the Collection's first major international exhibition, Frans Hals: The Male Portrait. She also led the Collection's multi-year conservation and research project around its Venetian view paintings, culminating in her recent book, co-authored with Charles Beddington, Canaletto and Guardi: Views of Venice at the Wallace Collection (Scala 2025). Before joining the Wallace Collection, Lelia held positions at prestigious institutions such as the National Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. 

Take part at the museum: Join us at the museum for this special talk, followed by drinks, book signing and gallery visit until 20.45.

Watch online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum. Online ticketholders will be emailed a link to join 24 hours in advance. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks.