View of the Rialto Bridge

Giacomo Guardi was the son of the famous Venetian painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). Like his father, Giacomo specialized in painting urban vedute. Together with large paintings, he produced numerous cartoline (postcards) like the present one and the two others in the following lots. These small and colorful views were intended as souvenirs for tourists visiting Venice during the Grand Tour. Many of these small gouaches bear inscriptions on the verso indicating the location depicted and also the artist’s address. They were therefore also probably intended as a promotional tool by Giacomo.

Giacomo’s cartoline offer charming depictions of many Venetian sites, but also interesting documents of the beginnings of modern tourism.