Description: This painting was created as a gift to Tom Zippelli for the opening of his new restaurant, Salt and Vine, in Frederick, MD. Based on a reference photo provided by the Retirement Travelers (Tom Alberi’s in-laws), this impressionistic painting captures several gondolas in Venice during the early morning hours. Awaiting the day’s activities, the gondolas are covered in protective canopies, while tied up to their mooring locations and bathed in the warm summer sunlight. Drawing inspiration from Monet’s paintings in Venice, this painting features loose brush strokes and an emphasis on color values and contrast to prominently feature the gondolas against the hazy backdrop of structures and waterscape.