1774
oil
canvas
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The Garden of Palazzo Contarini dal Zaffo is a 1774 oil by Francesco Guardi, a Rococo painting work, held at Art Institute of Chicago.
The painting shows a serene garden scene with a palazzo in the background. The garden is filled with trees and a small fountain, giving it a peaceful atmosphere. This painting is interesting because it was created for a local patron, which was unusual at the time, as most paintings were made for foreign travelers. The artist's use of light and color adds to the sense of calm in the scene. You can learn more about this style by looking into the work of artist Francesco Guardi.
A member of a family of painters in Venice, Francesco Guardi is renowned for his lively views of the most recognizable monuments of this picturesque city and for his engaging architectural fantasies, or capricci. Wealthy travelers making the grand tour of Europe—considered an essential part of an education for upper-class men—provided an important market for such views. In this case, however, the patron was not a foreigner passing through Venice, but John Strange, who lived in the city on the lagoon as the British resident, or representative. This view of the garden of a private house in…
One of series of four viewed in Venice and the Veneto, presumably painted for John Strange (died 1799), British resident in Venice between 1773 and 1788; sale of his collection, European Museum, London, May 27, 1799, no. 49 (bought in); sale of his collection, Christie’s, London, March 15, 1800, no. 99. Colonel Milligan of Caldwell Hall, Burton-on-Trent; Nottinghamshire; sold, Christie’s, London, March 13, 1883, no. 358 or 359, to Davies [this information given in Christie’s sale catalogue, December 8, 1989 under no. 114, Villa Loredan from the same series]; Charles Davies, London.…
On summer loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1978, 1981, 1982, and 1983. Paris, France, Grand Palais, Venice at Vivaldi and Tiepolo’s time, September 14 2018-January 21, 2019, cat. 164; Venice, Palazzo Ducale, Feb. 23- June 9, 2019.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Francesco Lazzaro Guardi (Italian pronunciation: ; 5 October 1712 – 1 January 1793) was an Italian painter, nobleman, and a member of the Venetian School.
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