The Lagoon Looking toward Murano from the Fondamenta Nuove 1770

Francesco Guardi captured this view of The Lagoon towards Murano with oil on canvas. In eighteenth-century Venice, artists like Guardi found a ready market for such vedute, or views, among wealthy tourists eager to take home a memento of their travels. This painting offers us a glimpse into the daily life and maritime activities of Venice, a major mercantile center, showing the lagoon bustling with boats and people. The image creates meaning through its depiction of Venice as a vibrant center of trade and travel. Guardi’s emphasis on atmosphere and light, and his loose brushwork, convey the sensory experience of being in Venice. But we should ask, who was this Venice for? It served as a playground for the Grand Tourists, while local Venetians struggled with a declining economy and political instability. The art market, tied to tourism, played a role in obscuring these social tensions. To fully understand the painting, we can consult period travel accounts, economic histories of Venice, and institutional records of the art market. By looking at the social and institutional context, we see how this tranquil scene reflects a more complex reality.