A Lagoon Capriccio with Two Fishermen
Francesco Guardi’s facility with the paint brush, prolificacy and originality are all the more remarkable given his late emergence as an artist of stature or, indeed, as a painter of any individuality at all. Had he died before the late 1750s, when he was already in his mid-forties, his name would only be known to specialists as the author of a few figurative subjects of little distinction. The fluency of execution which Guardi displayed from the 1760s onwards permitted him to work on occasion on a very large scale. The pair of Venetian views at Waddesdon Manor, which are arguably his masterpieces, measure no less than 2.84 x 4.24 m. Guardi was, however, equally adept at working on a miniature scale and was able to imbue tiny pastoral scenes, inspired by visits to the mainland, with all the atmosphere which characterises his work at its best. Imaginary scenes always held a greater appeal for locals than for foreign visitors, and Guardi’s prolific production of them shows that he was catering for a wide clientele from the 1770s onwards, when he could no longer rely on the Grand Tour trade for Venetian views which had served Canaletto so well in the 1730s.
oil on canvas
18.8 x 14.5cm
AGLG 304
Image & text © A. G. Leventis Gallery, Nicosia
Where you'll find this
A. G. Leventis Gallery
Permanent collection