Architectural capriccio with an arch and awning (recto); An architectural study (verso)

The architectural capriccio on this double-sided drawing can be connected with at least two paintings. One by Francesco Guardi once in the Chamalimaud collection (fig. 1; Christie’s, London, 7 July 2005, lot 19) that was described by Antonio Morassi as ‘opera bellissima per fantasia inventiva, capriccio tra i più riusciti nel repertorio di Francesco in questo genere’ (A. Morassi, Guardi. Antonio e Francesco Guardi, Venice, 1973, pp. 275, 451 and no. 757, ill.). Another version, attributed to Giacomo Guardi, was published by Succi (Succi, op. cit., p. 162, fig. 174).

Fig. 1. Francesco Guardi, Architectural capriccio with an arch and awning. Private collection.