The Lagoon, Venice, with the islands of San Michele and Murano beyond

In this serene view, Francesco Guardi captured the Camaldolese church complex of San Michele in Isola. The artist contrasts the shimmering white Istrian stones of the abbey church's famous façade, built by Mauro Codussi in 1469, with the surrounding cool, tranquil water of the lagoon. The island of Murano appears in the distance to the left. The composition is closely related to a smaller view of the island of San Michele seen from a similar viewpoint, formerly with Galleria Schubert, Milan (see A. Morassi, Guardi, 1973, I, p. 431, no. 651, and II, fig. 611).