Francesco Guardi was born in Venice, Italy in 1712. His father was Dominico Guardi, also a painter, who had come to Venice after his marriage in Vienna. The Guardi was a good example of a bottega (half studio, half shop) in the Venetian tradition. Domenico was founder of the workshop. The elder son, Giannantonio, probably trained Francesco; the brothers worked together on many paintings and church decorations. After 1750, Francesco painted alone.

Guardi was a forerunner of the 19th century Impressionists, and in the rendering of space and light with pen and ink he has never been surpassed. He was fifteen years younger than Canaletto and studied with him. He carried the atmospheric effects in...