Golden October

Ciardi’s great landscape was shown at the Venice Biennale in 1907 and acquired for 3,000 liras, in those early years of the century the painter still devoted himself to his favourite lagoon themes or scenes from the Tradiso countryside showing perceptive sensitivity in capturing every detail of light and time of day. In a brilliant and symphonic range of colours expressing a sense of pastoral serenity. On this canvas he portrays a perspective shortening of the Tradiso countryside with shepherds leading their flocks in a setting characterised by pale clear and diffused lines, pervaded by an air of mystery. Ciardi held the chair of the School of Country and Sea views at Venice Academy from 1894 after completing his studies between 1868 and 1869, travelling to Florence, Naples and Rome. It was precisely his encounter with Marchioli painters in Tuscany that inspired his desire for artistic independence which he himself expressed affirming the best technique is the simplest.