Francesco Guardi* (1712-1793)

The Piazza San Marco, looking East towards the Basilica

Details
Francesco Guardi* (1712-1793)
The Piazza San Marco, looking East towards the Basilica
oil on canvas
15 x 20in. (39.4 x 52cm.)
Provenance
with Thos. Agnew's, London, 1919.
Le Comte de Seulihade de Chauvin, Paris; sale, Galerie Charpentier, Paris, April 5, 1938, lot 32 (70,100 francs).
with Newhouse Galleries, New York, from whom purchased by the family of the present owner in 1976.

Lot Essay

In confiming the attribution to Guardi, Dario Succi (in correspondance) noted that the Avery painting is 'of a high level of quality' and judging from its style and palette, can be dated to the final phase of the artist's career, probably around 1788-90. Of Guardi's many versions of this classic subject, Succi notes, this is certainly one of the latest in date.

A certificate accompanying the painting at the time it was acquired from Newhouse stated that Antonio Morassi, who had not known the painting when he published his catalogue raisonn of Guardi's works in 1973, confirmed its attribution and intended to include it in the supplement to his book.