When Sergei Moskalev first set foot in Venice, the city’s shimmering waterways and golden light left an indelible mark on his artistic vision. The result is “My Love Letter to Venice” — a breathtaking series of 33 original paintings that capture the soul of one of the world’s most painted cities through an entirely fresh lens.
A City of Light, Reimagined in Oil and Gold Leaf
What sets Moskalev’s Venice series apart from countless other Venetian art is his distinctive use of oil and gold leaf on canvas. The gold leaf catches and reflects ambient light, giving each painting a living, luminous quality that shifts with the viewer’s perspective. This technique transforms familiar Venetian scenes — the Grand Canal, weathered palazzo facades, gondolas gliding through narrow waterways — into something that feels both timeless and contemporary.
The opening piece of the collection establishes the series’ visual language:
Layers of Color, Layers of Meaning
Moskalev builds his Venice paintings through careful layering. He begins with broad, expressive strokes of oil paint to establish the composition — the architecture, the water, the sky. Then he applies gold leaf in strategic areas where the Venetian light would naturally concentrate: along the waterline, on sunlit walls, and where reflections dance across the surface of the canals.
This layering process is visible in pieces like My Love Letter to Venice 010, where the interplay between warm oils and metallic gold creates a depth that flat paint alone cannot achieve:
From Intimate Canals to Sweeping Vistas
Across 33 paintings, the Venice collection covers the full emotional range of the city. Some works focus on quiet, intimate canal scenes — a single gondola, a weathered doorway, light filtering through an archway. Others capture Venice’s grand architectural drama, with sweeping views of the lagoon and its iconic skyline.
My Love Letter to Venice 020 demonstrates Moskalev’s ability to balance architectural precision with expressive, almost abstract brushwork:
Why Venice?
For Moskalev, Venice represents the perfect intersection of his artistic interests: the play of light on water, the richness of historical architecture, and the emotional resonance of a place that exists between past and present. As a Russian-born artist who has drawn inspiration from cities across the world — including Paris and New York — Venice offered something unique: a city where light itself becomes a building material, where reflections double the beauty of every surface.
The final piece in the series, My Love Letter to Venice 033, brings the journey full circle:
Collecting Venice: Original Paintings Available Online
All 33 paintings in the “My Love Letter to Venice” series are available as original works through Basha Art Gallery. Each piece is created with oil and gold leaf on canvas, making every painting a unique, luminous object that transforms any space it inhabits. Whether you are drawn to intimate canal scenes or panoramic Venetian vistas, the collection offers a remarkable range of perspectives on one of the world’s most captivating cities.
Browse the full Venice collection to find the piece that speaks to you, or contact us for inquiries about commissioned Venetian works.
