Francesco Guardi
Francesco Guardi (1712–1793) was an Italian painter known for views of Venice. His work depicted the city's buildings, waterways and celebrations, as well as imaginary architectural scenes.[1]
Work
Guardi was born in Venice into a family of painters. He worked with his brother Gian Antonio on figure paintings before turning increasingly to city views around 1760. Although Canaletto provided an important example, Guardi developed a looser handling of paint, particularly in his treatment of light and water.[1]
He also painted capricci: invented scenes that could bring together elements of real architecture. His depictions of public occasions included Venetian Gala Concert (1782), commissioned during a visit by Russian royalty.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Gallery, London. “Francesco Guardi”. Artist biography. Accessed 9 October 2026.
- ↑ Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen. Venetian Gala Concert. Collection record 8574.