Canaletto art brings thousands to Kendal

Kendal has been chosen as one of only three places in the UK to host the work of Canaletto, one of Italy's most famous painters, and it's on course to become Abbot Hall's most popular exhibition ever.

Thousands of people are expected to come to the South Cumbrian town, with many spending at least one night here during low tourist season, boosting the town's local economy.

Canaletto's real name was Giovanni Antonio Canal and he was born in 1697 and lived until 1768.

His images of Venice were particularly popular with the well-bred English gentlemen undertaking the Grand Tour of Europe.

When war caused the flow of British visitors to Venice to dry up Canaletto followed his patrons home to Britain, where he stayed for almost nine years from 1746 to 1755.

The paintings have come from different private and public collections, so it's the first time they have all been seen together. Many are owned by the Queen.

They haven't gone on display in London, only at three locations: Warwickshire, Bath and Kendal, making Abbot Hall the only place in the North you can see the exhibition.

This is now the last chance to see them, so it's expected many art lovers will come to Kendal in the next three months.

Canalleto painted Britain in the Georgian boom of building and industry that created the gallery they're being shown in, Abbott Hall. It's now the destination for art lovers all over the country.