The Fenice Theater in Venice 1712 - 1835

Francesco Guardi made this pen and wash drawing of the Fenice Theater in Venice in the late 18th century. It depicts the theater’s exterior as a social hub. Venice in this period was a republic known for its elaborate social rituals and traditions of civic display, and the theater, which in this period was relatively new, was where the elite came to see and be seen. By the late 1700s the Italian opera was established as an important institution for the aristocracy to show their cultural status. Guardi's drawing captures this social aspect, emphasizing the interactions of the people in the square rather than just the architecture of the theater itself. Art historians use a range of documents to investigate the social and political contexts of art. We might look at theater records and social diaries from the time to better understand the opera’s role in shaping Venetian culture. Through these resources we gain insight into how art reflects and shapes the society in which it’s created.