Follower of Giacomo Guardi, 19th century View of San Giorgio Maggiore from the Bacino of San Marco, Venice

Follower of Giacomo Guardi, nineteenth century

View of San Giorgio Maggiore from the Bacino of San Marco, Venice

Oil on canvas; held in a carved and gilded frame.

Provenance: A country house, Surrey, England

Dimensions refer to outer framed size.

The Venetian artist Giacomo Guardi (1764–1835) is famous for his Venetian vedute (cityscapes), including his notable depictions of "The Island of San Giorgio Maggiore". As the son of the great master Francesco Guardi, he captured this iconic Venetian island and its 16th-century basilica many times in different media, particularly gouache. These, and a work by his father currently in the Wallace Collection, London clearly is the strong influence on this large oil.

Showing an expansive view across the Bacino di San Marco, looking towards the islands of San Giorgio Maggiore (on the left) and Giudecca (on the right). This view – with the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), as its focal point – is taken from the quayside of the main land (the Riva degli Schiavoni) and represents one of the most popular scenes within 18th-century Venetian view painting.