Fire in the San Marcuola Oil Depot, Venice, 28 November 1789

Guardi employs a loose, impasto application of paint, especially in the swirling smoke and flickering fire, giving the scene a tactile, almost kinetic quality. The overall palette remains subdued, grays, browns, and blues, allowing the bright flames to dominate the visual field. This approach aligns the work with Rococo sensibilities, emphasizing movement and atmospheric effects over strict realism.

Created shortly after the actual fire of 28 November 1789, the painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. Guardi, a member of a noble Venetian family, had shifted from traditional vedute to more narrative cityscapes following his brother’s death in 1760, a transition reflected in this historically anchored work.

The piece belongs to the broader Venetian School, which prized detailed urban vistas and the interplay of light on water. In the late eighteenth century, Venice faced economic decline and frequent fires in its densely built canals, making Guardi’s depiction both a contemporary record and a visual commentary on the city’s precarious condition.