View on the Grand Canal at San Geremia, Venice

Inspired by the success of Canaletto’s (1697–1768) images of Venice, Venetian artist Francesco Guardi produced picturesque vedute (cityscapes) for the tourist trade. Although the artist was little-known in his own day, his views of 18th-century Venice are now greatly appreciated. Having learned from the structured, highly-delineated approach of Canaletto, Guardi created a more lyrical style, characterized by his personal interpretation of Venice as a fairy tale city, bathed in humid light. His paintings incorporate atmospheric qualities and an expressive, animated brushwork.

Guardi’s mature style is evident in this painting, which captures the spectacle of Venetian life. The area around the Cannaregio—the canal that opens up in the painting’s center—is not one of the more popular tourist views of the city, but Guardi’s choice of site may have been inspired by Canaletto’s earlier painting of the same scene. Guardi’s view includes the reconstruction in progress on the Church of San Geremia (left), not apparent in Canaletto’s painting of thirty years before.