Follower of Francesco Guardi

Guardi painted this view of the Piazza San Marco facing the Basilica several times throughout his career, showcasing different times of day and different staffage. The present composition shares similarities with versions most recently at Richard L. Feigen, New York (circa 1760s), in a private collection in Trent (circa second half of the 1770s), and at the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh (circa 1790s).¹ However in all of Guardi's treatments of this view, the strong shadow is cast over the left size of the piazza rather than the right, as here.

1. See D. Succi, Guardi: Catalogo dei dipinti e designi inediti, vol. II, Pordenone 2021, pp. 69-72, cat. nos. 90, 92, 93.