- GUARDI, Francesco
1712-93
Painter
- Francesco Guardi was a Venetian veduta painter, whose free handling and atmospheric effects now appeal more than Canaletto's meticulous views of Venetian architecture, which were the more highly valued until the Impressionists taught us to see the transient effects of light. Most of Guardi's views of Venice - he painted little else - were produced as souvenirs for tourists, and a contemporary diarist records him as a disciple of Canaletto, working for an Englishman. He worked with his elder brother, Giovanni Antonio (1699-1760), and collaborated with him on some religious pictures; they are now known to have painted decorations in the organ loft of the church of the Archangel Raphael in Venice, but Francesco's activity as a figure painter has only recently been clarified by the discovery of such works as the altarpiece at Roncegno in Valsugnana, of c.1777, and five large decorative panels (one in Hull). Two Allegories (Liverpool) may be either Francesco or Giovanni Antonio and in this they represent a large class of their works. The only certain (and very mediocre) work by Giovanni is The Death of St Joseph (Berlin): this was thought to have been destroyed in 1945, but reappeared (rather mysteriously) in 1965.
There is a view in the Ridotto by Antonio in Cambridge (Fitzwm).
Francesco's vedute, for which he got only about half Canaletto's prices, were produced in great numbers and have also been imitated ever since the 18th century. The vivacity and bravura of his little figures, and his pale, bright colour, may owe something to his brother-in-law, Tiepolo.
Most large galleries have works by him, but the following are dated sets of pictures: Election of Doge Alvise IV Mocenigo, 1763, based on engravings after drawings by Canaletto; in the Louvre (seven), Brussels, Grenoble,, Nantes (two) and Toulouse; Pius VI's Visit to Venice, 1782, in Oxford and private collections; Fetes for the Archduke Paul of Russia and Maria Feodorowna ('I Conti del Nord'), 1782, in Munich and private collections. Other dated pictures include Faith and Hope, in the Ringling Mus., Sarasota, Fla: Hope was signed by Francesco and dated 1747 - but both signature and date disappeared during cleaning and doubts have been expressed, perhaps wrongly, concerning their authenticity. There are also two signed views of Venice of exceptional size, unique in his work, at Waddesdon, Bucks (NT).
- Source: The Penguin Dictionary of Art and Artists (Penguin Reference Books)
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