View of Campo San Zanipolo with the Temporary Platform Erected for the Visit of Pope Pius VI 1782

Francesco Guardi captured this view of Campo San Zanipolo in Venice with pen and brown ink, a traditional medium for rapid sketching. Guardi was known for his energetic, almost feverish line. It gives the drawing a sense of immediacy, as though it were dashed off on the spot. But look closer, and you will see how carefully the tonality has been built up through layers of hatching. The relatively humble materials belie the intricacy of the work. More to the point, consider what Guardi is actually depicting. This is not just the everyday life of Venice, but a temporary structure – a stage set, really – erected for a single, momentous occasion. It gives you a jolt, doesn't it? The amount of labor involved for just one day is a bit shocking. Guardi is not just showing us the pomp of 18th-century Venice, but the labor and expense that propped it up. It's a powerful reminder of the social context that underlies even the most beautiful works of art.