Quinta Valle at Castello 1764 - 1835

Giacomo Guardi made this drawing, Quinta Valle at Castello, using pen and brown wash, over graphite. Guardi was from a family of Venetian painters, though the exact date of this artwork is unknown. The drawing shows a distant view of Castello, a district in Venice, with boats and figures in the foreground. Guardi’s drawing focuses on the material qualities of ink and paper, using lines and washes to create texture and depth. His choices reflect Venice's artistic traditions, and the wider cultural interest in capturing and representing places. Although seemingly simple, Guardi's technique required control and skill, building up layers of wash to describe architectural forms and the reflections on the water. The choice of a brown wash is particularly notable. It gives the drawing a warm, aged tone, perhaps hinting at nostalgia for Venice's past glory. In this way, materials, making, and context intertwine, giving the work its full meaning.