The Fortress of San Andrea from the Lagoon

1780s

Francesco Guardi

Associated Names
Francesco Guardi

Artist, Venetian, 1712 - 1793

The image depicts a view overlooking a body of water. Near the center of the image is a building with a flag on the horizon, surrounded by small trees and distant structures suggesting a shoreline. In the water are multiple small boats and gondolas with people rowing or managing them. The brushstrokes are delicate and fluid, using an ink wash technique for a soft atmosphere. The color palette is dominated by warm sepia tones, enhancing the peaceful ambiance. Boats are strategically placed in the composition, leading the viewer's gaze through the scene.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash over black on laid paper, with some white gouache

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (approximate): 29.6 × 45.8 cm (11 5/8 × 18 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1963.15.13

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Richard Owen, Paris; sold 1936 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation; gift 1963 to the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1978

  • Master Drawings from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art and Promised Gifts, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1978, p. 77.

1994

  • The Glory of Venice: Art in the Eighteenth Century, Royal Academy of Arts, London, and National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994, 317, 459, no. 214 (repro. p. 317, color)(entry by Mitchell Merling).

1995

  • Splendori del Settecento Veneziano, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, 1995, 455, 456, no. 176 (repro. p. 456)(entry by Attilia Dorigato).

2014

  • The Poetry of Light - La poesia della luce: Venetian Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, Museo Correr, Venice, Venice, 2014 - 2015, no. 110.

Bibliography

1973

  • Shapley, Fern Rusk. Paintings fromt he Samuel H. Kress Collection: Italian Schools, XVI-XVII Century. (Washington: 1973): 175, fig. 331.

1975

  • Morassi, Antonio. Guardi: Tutti i Disegni di Antonio, Francesco, e Giacomo Guardi._ (Venice: 1975): 150, no. 403, fig. 405.

1977

  • Shaw, James Byam. "Some Guardi Drawings Rediscovered," Master Drawings xv.1 (1977): 11, under no. 6.

1979

  • Shapley, Fern Rusk. Catalogue of the Italian Paintings. 2 vols. Washington, 1979: 1:244-245; 2:pl. 166.

1984

  • Morassi, Antonio. Guardi: I Dipinti. (Venice: 1984): 430, under no. 644

1994

  • The Glory of Venice. Exh. cat. Royal Academy of Arts, London; National Gallery of Art, Washington; Museo del Settecento Veneziano - Ca'Rezzonico, Venice; Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, 1994-1995: 317, 459, no. 214.

1995

  • Splendori del Settecento Veneziano. Exh. cat. Electa, Milan, 1995: 455-456.

2011

  • Sperone, Gian Enzo, Marco Voena, et al. Italian Paintings from the 17th to the 18th Centuries. Robilant + Voena at Sperone Westwater. New York, 2011, 60, fig. 1 (as The Fortress of San Niccolo).

Watermarks

large crowned asymmetrical shield (cf. Heawood 824) containing three crescents with "IMPERIAL" below

Wikidata ID

Q64562383

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