Mario Carraro (1896-1978) Gondola to Piazzale Roma in Venice. Signed at the bottom right: "M. Carraro 1942" Pastel on paper, 39 x 30.5 cm. Inside the frame for a total of 58x49 cm. The pastel depicts an aerial view of Piazzale Roma, the important connection hub between Venice and the mainland, portrayed during the construction or restructuring works of the 1940s. The composition features an aerial perspective that encompasses the wide space of the square with its characteristic semicircular shape overlooking the Grand Canal. Along the curved perimeter of the square, numerous boats are lined up, probably water buses and transport boats, reflecting the intense connection activity between the lagoon city and the mainland. In the center of the space, temporary structures, vehicles, and construction materials are visible, indicative of the urban development work underway during the wartime period. The pastel technique is used delicately, creating blurred effects that are particularly effective in rendering the water of the canal and the overall atmosphere of the scene. The dating of 1942 places the work in a particular historical moment, during the Second World War, when Venice was undergoing urban transformations related to wartime and logistical needs. Piazzale Roma, inaugurated in 1933 as a bus and railway terminal, was still subject to adjustments and improvements. The piazzale then, as today, represented the nerve center of vehicular access to Venice, replacing the previous Sant'Andrea landing and becoming the main connection between the insular city and the mainland via the Ponte della Libertà. The work possesses significant historical and documentary interest as it testifies to the appearance of Piazzale Roma during the war years, a period of important urban transformations for Venice. The topographic accuracy and the meticulous representation of boats and structures make this pastel a valuable visual document of the era. The view from above, unusual for the Venetian veduta tradition which typically focuses on perspectives from water level or fields, offers a modern and functional urban perspective, in line with the documentary needs of the period.