Francesco Guardi Venice 1712-1793

The Isola della Beata Vergine del Rosario is named for the church it houses. From the eighth century and for nearly 500 years, the Isola di San Servolo housed a Benedictine monastery. More recently, it housed a mental hospital, and it is now the site of Venice International University.

Enlarged versions of these views, with numerous variations particularly to the staffage, are recorded in the Stramezzi collection and formerly on the Milanese art market, respectively (see A. Morassi, Guardi: I dipinti, Venice, 1973, II, nos. 927-28). These Morassi attributes to Giacomo Guardi during his youthful period, when he was most under the influence of his father, whom he frequently copied. It seems reasonable to assume that these small veduti by Francesco served as the models for his son.