意大利有一個夢幻城市——威尼斯,那裡的人以船代步,以一個擁有雙翼的獅子標誌。愛上威尼斯,可能真的只需一眼。在大運河上看日出日落,浪漫得不真實。威尼斯現在以旅遊業支撐主要經濟,其景色、歌劇、藝術展、Murano玻璃和Burano蕾絲等傳統工藝都吸引著每年成千上萬的遊客。

然而,去威尼斯旅遊除了會沉醉在其景色中,還因為它的易逝而特別顯得虛幻、不真實。很早就有預言說威尼斯會在2050年後被完全淹沒,而現在,威尼斯正面臨著自1966年以來最嚴重的一次水災, 水深達1.87米。當地政府更宣佈威尼斯進入緊急狀態,雙年展取消,不少古蹟被淹,情況令人痛心。

Flooded St. Mark's Square, by St. Mark's Basilica on November 15, 2019 in Venice, two days after the city suffered its highest tide in 50 years. (Getty Images)

Flooded St. Mark's Square, by St. Mark's Basilica on November 15, 2019 in Venice, two days after the city suffered its highest tide in 50 years. (Getty Images)

而威尼斯的美,更是令到其成為眾多藝術家筆下的對象。以下精選了十幅描繪威尼斯的油畫,一起來看看以前的威尼斯是怎麼樣的。

The Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice, c. 1730 by Canaletto(The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston)

The Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice, c. 1730 by Canaletto(The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston)

The Molo And The Riva Degli Schiavoni From The Bacino Di San Marco, by GUARDI, Francesco (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

The Molo And The Riva Degli Schiavoni From The Bacino Di San Marco, by GUARDI, Francesco (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day, 1732 by Canaletto (Buckingham Palace)

Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day, 1732 by Canaletto (Buckingham Palace)

The Lion of St Mark 1516, by Vittore Carpaccio (Palazzo Ducale, Venice)

The Lion of St Mark 1516, by Vittore Carpaccio (Palazzo Ducale, Venice)

Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, 1740-50, by Canaletto

Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, 1740-50, by Canaletto

The Grand Canal, Venice 1835 by Joseph Mallord William Turner (The Met Museum)

The Grand Canal, Venice 1835 by Joseph Mallord William Turner (The Met Museum)

The Healing of the Madman c. 1496 (Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice)

The Healing of the Madman c. 1496 (Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice)

The Grand Canal Venice, 1908 by Claude Oscar Monet (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

The Grand Canal Venice, 1908 by Claude Oscar Monet (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

The Grand Canal Venice, 1908 by Claude Oscar Monet

The Grand Canal Venice, 1908 by Claude Oscar Monet

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, 1908 by Claude Monet (‎National Museum Cardiff)

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, 1908 by Claude Monet (‎National Museum Cardiff)