EVOCATIVE images of Venice feature in a new exhibition opening at the Lady Lever gallery in Port Sunlight this week.

Picturing Venice, which opens on Friday, features works by artists including JMW Turner, Walter Sickert and Frank Brangwyn. It explores The Floating City's influence on British art and culture.

It looks at its role in providing an educational rite of passage for the European elite embarking on the Grand Tour from the 17th century onwards, to its position today as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

In addition to work Sickert and Brangwyn, visitors can see Charles H Mackie’s woodblock prints of Venice (1911), along with Liverpool-born artist Mary McCrossan’s oil painting, Umbrellas and Barges (c. 1924 - 1934).

Charlotte Keenan, Curator of British Art, said: "Picturing Venice will showcase an exciting selection of works from National Museums Liverpool’s collections, exploring the stylistic developments of British art between the mid-17th century and 20th century through images of Venice.

"The Lady Lever Art Gallery provides a fitting setting for the exhibition, not only because so many of the painters and sculptors whose work feature in the collection were inspired by the art and architecture of Venice, but also because William Hesketh Lever, who built the Gallery, was involved with some of the early Venice Biennales."

The inaugural Biennale took place in 1895. Held every two years, the event provides an international stage to showcase contemporary art. The exhibition coincides with this year’s Biennale, 9 May to 22 November 2015.

Landmarks featured in the exhibition include the Piazza San Giovanni, St Mark’s facade and the majestic Doge’s Palace.

The exhibition will also present a selection of photographs of the City of Water taken by pioneering photographer Carlo Ponti, who moved to Venice in 1852 and opened a shop selling photographic souvenirs to tourists.

The exhibition ends its Lady Lever Gallery run on September 27.