Figure Studies

Francesco Guardi prints show Venice in quick, flickering light: gondolas on a grey lagoon, crowds at a regatta, the gilded state barge on its way to sea. Guardi was among the last painters of the classic Venetian school, and his lively, loose touch later won the admiration of the Impressionists. Our collection of fine art prints includes his city views, festival scenes, imaginary capriccios and drawings.

About Francesco Guardi

Francesco Guardi was born in Venice on 5 October 1712 into a family of minor nobility from Trentino. His father and his brothers Gian Antonio and Niccolò were painters too, and the brothers ran the family workshop together. His sister Maria Cecilia married Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

From 1735 to 1743 he worked in the studio of Michele Marieschi, and for years he painted religious pictures alongside Gian Antonio. After his brother's death in 1760 Francesco concentrated on vedute, views of Venice. His early views follow Canaletto and Luca Carlevarijs, but he soon developed a freer manner of his own.

His most important later works include the Doge's Feasts, twelve paintings of the ceremonies for the election of Doge Alvise IV Mocenigo in 1763. In 1782 the Venetian government commissioned him to record the visit of the Russian Grand Dukes and of Pope Pius VI, and that year he was admitted to the Venetian Academy. He died in the Cannaregio district of Venice on 1 January 1793.

Style and Subjects

Guardi's style is called pittura di tocco, painting "of touch": small dabs and spirited strokes that make water sparkle and figures flicker. Where Canaletto draws every building precisely, Guardi loosens the architecture and lets air and light take over.

His subjects are Venice's canals, squares and lagoon, its festivals and regattas, and capriccios: imaginary scenes of ruins, arches and lagoon islands. His colours are silvery greys, soft greens and warm whites, with bright notes in the costumes of tiny figures.

Famous Works

• The Bucintoro Festival of Venice (1760s). The Doge's gilded state barge setting out on the Feast of the Ascension.
• Gondolas on the Lagoon (about 1765), Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan. Two gondolas on a still, grey lagoon, one of his most admired small pictures.
• Regatta on the Grand Canal (about 1770). Racing boats and crowded balconies along the Grand Canal.
• Venetian Gala Concert (1782), Alte Pinakothek, Munich. A concert by eighty orphan girls in honour of the Russian Grand Dukes.
• The Ball at the Teatro San Benedetto (1782). The ball given in honour of the visiting "Counts of the North".
• Pope Pius VI Taking Leave of the Doge (about 1783). A ceremony from the papal visit of 1782.
• The Fire at San Marcuola (1789–1790), Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice. Smoke pours over the city from a burning oil depot.

Decorating with Guardi Prints

Guardi's Venetian views bring soft light and a sense of travel to living rooms, dining rooms and hallways. Their silvery palette sits well with grey, blue and cream walls and with both antique and modern furniture. A pair of views, such as The Grand Canal above the Rialto with a lagoon scene, makes a balanced arrangement over a sofa or sideboard.

The architectural capriccios have a dreamy, theatrical feel that suits a study, library or bedroom, and look good in gilt or dark wood frames.

FAQ

What is the difference between Guardi and Canaletto?

Canaletto painted Venice with precise, almost architectural accuracy. Guardi's early views follow him, but his mature work is looser and more atmospheric, with flickering brushwork and freely imagined buildings.

What art movement was Francesco Guardi part of?

Guardi belonged to the Venetian school of the eighteenth century and is best known as a painter of vedute, views of Venice, and capriccios.

What are Francesco Guardi's most famous paintings?

His festival series such as the Doge's Feasts, Gondolas on the Lagoon and his views of regattas and the Bucintoro are among his best known.

Where can I see Guardi's paintings?

Works are in the Louvre, the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, the Frick Collection in New York, the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon.

Was Francesco Guardi related to Tiepolo?

Yes. His sister Maria Cecilia married Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, making the great decorative painter his brother-in-law.

Related Artists

• Canaletto: Venetian view painter whose work shaped his early views
• Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: his brother-in-law
• Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo: his nephew, painter of Venetian life
• Pietro Longhi: Venetian painter of everyday life in the same era