This is my Ken-aletto!
Amateur, 84, who’s painted an astonishing Canaletto copy
YOU could call him an old master … at 84, a retired engineer has produced his own extraordinary version of an 18th century masterpiece by Canaletto.
Even more astonishing, Ken Small had never picked up an artist’s brush until he turned 65 and decided to keep busy in retirement.
Self-taught, he worked tirelessly for three years in the back bedroom of his home to produce the 5ft by 7ft rendition of a Venetian scene by the Italian master.
It is not an exact copy – Mr Small has made a number of changes, and refers to the work as his ‘Kenniletto’.
In fact, two boats which appear in the foreground of his version carry the name plates Kenni and Letto.
Mr Small spent several hours a day painting after seeing the original at the Bowes Museum in County Durham.
The work, The Bucintoro Returning To The Molo On Ascension Day, is considered to be one of Canaletto’s finest and was painted in the 1730s.
Mr Small said: ‘It fascinated me. I was itching to do a big canvas and I thought I would have a go at it because there were some parts in it that I didn’t like.
‘I thought I could do better. I know that is a bit cheeky, but that’s what I thought.’
Mr Small has added boats, people and animals and changed buildings. ‘I was trying to emulate Canaletto in a way,’ he said. ‘My version is better in my opinion because it is fuller, and has a lot more gold in it.’
The divorcee, from Rushyford, County Durham, even makes his own frames.
He added: ‘I paint because I enjoy it. It makes me happy because being alone can depress you. I am very pleased that I have followed my passion into later life.
‘I was always drawing and was fascinated with art when I was younger, but never picked up a brush until I was 65.
‘I painted the Canaletto because there is so much going on in the painting. I’ve made it my own and I am really proud of what I have accomplished.’
He has been so busy in retirement that he has produced more than 50 pictures, including one of the Queen and another of Prince Harry with Meghan Markle.
He would love to have an exhibition, and while none of his paintings is currently for sale he said: ‘I will sell them eventually.’