Emma Ciardi was born in Venice, where her grandfather, father and brother were all artists, and learned to paint under their instruction. Ciardi attempted to emulate the Italian artists she admired, Francesco Guardi and Giovanni Canaletto.

Her work was acclaimed during her lifetime she was made an Honorary Academician at the Royal Academies of Art in Venice and Milan, and won medals at international exhibitions. Over twenty years earlier, Ciardi had shown eighty paintings at the Leicester Galleries in London. Her exhibition there featured London cityscapes, including Oxford Street, From Waterloo Bridge and Nelson's Column. Also on show were her paintings of Venice. La Regatta V...