A broad expanse of the Grand Canal stretches across the foreground, its surface animated by the movement of gondolas and small boats filled with figures. On the left, the facades of Venetian palaces rise directly from the water, their pink and ochre walls punctuated by rows of arched windows and small balconies, some draped with cloths or banners. A stone landing juts into the canal at the lower left, where men stand talking or preparing to board the moored gondolas, while others tend to boats or lean over the water.

Across the canal on the right, a long, red building with a colonnaded ground floor dominates the scene, its arcades casting deep shadows that contrast with the sunlit upper stories. The canal narrows in the distance, lined with more palaces and culminating in the pale, angular structure of the Rialto Bridge, which is partially visible just above the horizon. Above, a vast sky occupies nearly half the composition, painted in soft blue with scattered clouds that catch the sunlight and lend a sense of atmosphere and depth. The artist uses delicate, precise brushwork to capture architectural details, such as the carved stonework of the windows, the tiled roofs, and the wooden posts that line the canal’s edge.

Sunlight falls from the left, illuminating the facades and casting reflections on the rippling water, which is painted with short, rhythmic strokes of green and blue. The composition is carefully balanced, with the mass of buildings on either side framing the open water and drawing the gaze toward the distant bridge.