Giacomo Guardi

Paired with:

• A View of the Rialto Bridge, Venice

Essay:

Giacomo Guardi began his career as a pupil of his father, Francesco, painting topographical views of Venice and its environs. Giacomo was devoted to his father and learned both technique and insights into the trade from him, inheriting his father's studio when the latter died in 1793. Giacomo was to specialise in painting small-scale vedute highly influenced by his father's atmospheric style which are always signed on the verso. Due to their intimate size, they are often called “vedutine” (mini vedute). Most depict famous Venetian piazze or monuments. These drawings were highly popular among foreign tourists, and several albums of his works made their way to Britain in the 19th century.

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To promote his business, Giacomo typically inscribed the verso of his vedutine - as he did with this drawing - with its title, his studio address, and his signature. This aided his patrons’ return to purchase additional vedutine. Most of his gouache works on paper, including this one, cost 45 Sovrani d'Austria abbreviated to Ao sn according to his inscription.

In this instance we see a view of St Mark's Square. Guardi has painted the men in the picture wearing what appears to be top hats, which came into fashion at the turn of the 19th century. Therefore the work can be identified as having come from a relatively late stage in Guardi's career.

Inscribed verso:
'Veduta della Piazza di S Marco
all'Ospedaletto in calle del Peruchier in SS. Gio e Paolo Ao sn45 dimandar
Giacomo de Guardi'

A note on the provenance:
The heart of the Dutch and Flemish collection at Manchester Art Gallery came from a bequest in 1979 by Edgar and Effie Assheton Bennett. The collection consisted of 72 oil paintings including works by Gerrit Dou, Jan van Huysum, Philips de Koninck, and Jacob van Ruisdael. Edgar Assheton Bennett was a London stockbroker born in Manchester. The couple's collection was renowned during their lifetime and the bequest is still regarded as one of the most important and valuable given to a museum in the 20th century.

Provenance:

The sale of Mrs Edgar Assheton Bennett (1881 - 1976), Christie's, London, 20 May 1955, lot 67 (sold for £315 with two other works by Guardi: 'The Riva Schiavone' and 'The Rialto').
Private Collection, UK.