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Notes

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A crumbling, overgrown archway towers above a man and a young child carrying a stick, who are picked out by warm sunlight. The eye is led into the scene by the contrast of light, which illuminates the white stone building beyond, and shade. The use of simple blocks of colour and black lines to suggest architectural details might give the impression that this work was painted quickly on the spot, but it was most likely created in Guardi's studio.This is one of a group of three very small pictures which have been framed together since the early nineteenth century (in another, a stylish couple wander towards a ruined domed building, while the third shows two men standing beside a calm pool and huge archway). Imaginary scenes like this, inspired by the Italian countryside and ancient buildings, were known as capricci, and were bought as souvenirs by visitors to Venice, where Guardi lived and worked.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Caprice View with Ruins

Date

after 1780

Medium

Oil on wood

Measurements

H 10.4 x W 6 cm

Accession number

NG2521.3

Acquisition method

Salting Bequest, 1910

Work type

Painting

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

View venue

Artist or maker

Francesco Guardi

1712–1793

View profile

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Venice, the Church of San Simeone Piccolo on the Grand Canal English Heritage, Kenwood
High Bridge over a Canal Museum of Gloucester
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