Two Elegant Couples c. 1780

Francesco Guardi made this pen and wash drawing, Two Elegant Couples, in Venice, Italy, sometime in the latter half of the 18th century. Guardi’s Venice was a city of contrasts: it was a major centre for art and culture, but also a place of entrenched social hierarchies. Guardi came from a family of painters, but he wasn’t part of the established Academy. His works often depict scenes of Venetian life, capturing a world of elaborate costumes, social gatherings, and theatrical displays. The figures in this drawing are rendered with quick, fluid lines, suggesting movement and spontaneity. The elegant dress and bearing of the couples speaks to the rigid social structures of the time, where appearances and social status were everything. It's interesting to consider how Guardi’s own position outside the Academy might have shaped his perspective on the Venetian elite. To fully understand this work, we need to look at the broader cultural and institutional context of 18th-century Venice, delving into sources such as period accounts, fashion history, and records of social events.