Venice, rebuilding the Campanile

Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926 · 1911

"The changes in the methods of work between Canaletto's time and mine were never more clearly shown. When he drew the building, as I saw it, a few years ago, everything was done from the inside, till the top was reached, men and material being carried up on elevators. It is said one of our ingenious American Captains of Labor offered to rebuild it for free if the Venetians would let him put two elevators in, and have the profits from them for twenty-five years, after which he would hand it to the city and retire on the results. The Syndic declined, but put in the elevators." J[oseph] P[ennell], 1916.