Capriccio with Roman Ruins

18th century

Not on view

While the idyllic, imaginary subject matter of this large composition is typical of Venetian paintings, drawings, and prints of the mid- to late eighteenth century, it is Guardi's realization of such drawings that ranks them as great feats of artistic virtuosity. Here, the landscape is articulated with a stunning immediacy and economy of mark, suggesting a light-filled space that gradually and magically dissolves into the far distance of the white paper. The ruin of an ancient Roman triumphal arch at the center more or less frames another, more complete building-a small, pedimented temple-behind it. The artist seems to have considered cropping the composition at left, after having drawn it, by ruling a line in graphite at the proposed cut and smudging some wash over the undesired forms to minimize them. The quick manner of summing up the contours of the forms with jittery, broken lines and the extensive use of underdrawing in graphite are among the hallmarks of Guardi's drawing style.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Capriccio with Roman Ruins
Artist: Francesco Guardi (Italian, Venice 1712–1793 Venice)
Date: 18th century
Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over graphite; framing lines in pen and brown ink drawn by the artist; sheet glued onto secondary paper support
Dimensions: sheet: 10 7/8 x 15 3/4 in. (27.6 x 40 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: From the Collection of Rita and Frits Markus, Bequest of Rita Markus, 2005
Object Number: 2005.330.5
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Francesco Guardi

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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The Arcade of the Libreria, Looking Toward San Giorgio Maggiore, Francesco Guardi Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash — The Arcade of the Libreria, Looking Toward San Giorgio Maggiore
Francesco Guardi
1712–93

Lagoon Capriccio with an Obelisk, Francesco Guardi Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, over black chalk — Lagoon Capriccio with an Obelisk
Francesco Guardi
ca. 1750–70

View of Piazza with Basilica of San Marco, Francesco Guardi Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash. Framing lines in pen and brown ink at left and right margins. Pricked for transfer — View of Piazza with Basilica of San Marco
Francesco Guardi
1712–93

Bullbaiting in a Venetian Piazza, Francesco Guardi Italian, Pen and brown ink — Bullbaiting in a Venetian Piazza
Francesco Guardi
1712–93

The Fenice Theater in Venice (recto); Fragment of a Larger Drawing Representing Part of a Column and a Cornice (verso), Francesco Guardi (recto) Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush with brown and gray wash over traces of black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash (verso) — The Fenice Theater in Venice (recto); Fragment of a Larger Drawing Representing Part of a Column and a Cornice (verso)
Francesco Guardi
Giacomo Guardi
1712–1835

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