A Golden Age Before the Decline Venice's characteristic appearance inspired its painters from the 15th Century onwards. Nevertheless, it was only in the 18th Century that veduta (Italian for "view") appeared: representations of Venice's monuments that were both picturesque and precise. Before Guardi, Canaletto was the grand master of the genre. His contacts with English customers ensured him both glory and a good income. Francesco Guardi was content to play a subsidiary role in the workshop of his brother Gian Antonio, a painter of religious pictures, until the age of fifty. It was only on the death of his brother that he turned to veduta. He radically changed the inspiration of the genre. Canaletto produced coldly perfect representations, but Guardi substituted a technique of small strokes, a warm light, and a sensitive attention to detail. The way he looked atVenice has influenced other great painters for whom this city has been a source of inspiration (Turner and Monet amongst others). After Tiepolo's departure for Spain, Fontebasso was the greatest decorator in Venice. His dazzling, luminous art stood out clearly in contrast to the declining role of the Venetian Republic.