ARTWORKS

Caprice View with Ruins

Francesco Guardi (1712–1793)

The National Gallery, London

Caprice View with Ruins

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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This is one of three tiny pictures that have been grouped together since the early nineteenth century (the others show a man and child in a landscape with a derelict folly, and hard-working men beside a pool). It shows an elegantly dressed couple heading towards a pillared ruined arch, which appears in other pictures by Guardi. These foreground figures are only around one centimetre tall, but Guardi still managed to portray a sense of their movement, poses and dress.

Rich colours and bright light draw us into the scene. Guardi has created a glowing atmosphere – the elegant columns and domed roof reflect the sunlight, which also illuminates the white building beyond. These works, known as capricci or imaginary views, were bought as souvenirs by tourists to Venice, Guardi’s home city and where he spent his entire career.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

Caprice View with Ruins

Date

after 1780

Medium

Oil on wood

Measurements

H 10.1 x W 6.1 cm

Accession number

NG2521.2

Acquisition method

Salting Bequest, 1910

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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Artist or maker

Francesco Guardi

1712–1793

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