Architectural Capriccio; Courtyard of a Palace 1712 - 1793

Francesco Guardi made this pen and wash drawing, “Architectural Capriccio; Courtyard of a Palace”, in 18th century Venice. Guardi, like Canaletto, made a career selling images of the city to wealthy tourists eager to take home souvenirs of the Grand Tour. But, unlike Canaletto's precise renderings of famous landmarks, Guardi specialized in capricci. These were imaginary scenes, often of decaying buildings, that evoked Venice's faded glory. This drawing emphasizes the theatricality of Venetian life. The architecture is grandiose but crumbling. The figures are arranged as if on a stage. Is Guardi commenting on the social structures of his own time, the declining Venetian Republic? To understand Guardi's vision, historians consult guidebooks, diaries, and prints that reveal the city's allure for foreign visitors. They also examine the art market and workshop practices of Venice to understand how artists responded to institutional changes and commercial opportunities. By understanding these contexts, we can better understand the social meaning of Guardi’s art.