Francesco Guardi: 11 works

'The Guardi brothers and their studio took their cue from the engravings of the Recueil Ferriol, which arose in 1714 after Paintings by Jean- Baptiste van Mour.'

'Francesco Guardi based this drawing on a picture much like one by Luca Carlevarijs, now in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, London. It is a capriccio, an imaginary view that was popular in Italy in the 1700s, and Guardi created many similar imaginary scenes of Venetian life.'

'Francesco Guardi, who was strongly influenced by Canaletto's idealised views of the city, generally made preparatory drawings for his paintings; the Museo Correr in Venice holds a large collection of his sketches and notes. Here, Guardi provides a view of the Giudecca Canal, the waterfront promenade of Zattere, the churches of San Biagio and Santa Marta, and the Euganean Hills rising up in the distant background, behind the island of San Giorgio in Alga.'

'This is one of the most Canaletto-esque "vedute" (view paintings) by the painter Francesco Guardi, characterized by an enlarged composition that is rich in detail. It dates back to the first years of Guardi's work as a landscape painter when, perhaps taking advantage of Canaletto's absence while he was in England, the artist tried his hand at a genre that was in high demand at home and abroad.'

'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.'

'On the right side, behind the tiny figures on shore, he depicted the Church of San Geremia in the midst of its renovation.'

'By placing much of the façade in shade, he brings the enormous building into balance with the Franciscan Order's early Renaissance building, now a hospital, the Scuola di San Marco, whose ornate façade is highlighted by strong light.'

'Guardi drew several paintings and drawings to record their visit.'

'The motif of the arch - semi-circular or Gothic - with or without a lantern is often found in the landscape compositions of Francesco Guardi and his numerous drawings.'

'The Campo San Polo was a residential square, unlike the famous tourist spot, Saint Mark's, that he usually sketched. Guardi filled the scene with minute details for an intimate glimpse of urban life in Venice.'

'Francesco Guardi lived and worked in Venice his entire life and made its many festivities and everyday life and manners his favourite theme.'