Giacomo Guardi Venice 1764 - 1835

Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh (1881-1944), Rufford Hall, Ormskirk, Lancashire in  August 1917;
Thence by family descent.

Anon compiler, Specification of Pictures and Furniture belonging to T. Fermor-Hesketh Esq., at Rufford Hall, Ormskirk, Lancashire, August 1st 1917, 'Two ditto by Guardi (very small) £200'.

The painting is less contrasted and much warmer in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The support is made of a thin uncradled panel, almost entirely flat. The varnish is slightly discoloured and uneven. The painting has not suffered from damages or significant restoration, and only very minor scattered retouchings in the sky are visible under ultra-violet light. The figures, boats, water and architecture remain intact. The paint surface appears rather worn in certain areas and the preparation ground and wood grain are beginning to show through: this occurs in the sky (especially in the 'blonder' clouds upper left and upper right of the church) and in the water in the immediate foreground, along the lower edge. The 'streaky' appearance of the sky may be due to partial wear of the uppermost layer of paint, revealed the patchy ground beneath. These areas of apparent thinness are probably to some degree intentional as they demonstrate the artist's painting technique, but they are perhaps more marked than Guardi might have originally intended. The Rococo-style gilt wood and plaster frame has minor superficial knocks but is generally sound (see catalogue).
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The island of San Jacopo di Paludo is located in the Venetian lagoon, near the island of Murano. The church and its convent that lend their name to the island were demolished in 1810. The composition of this particular view is based upon Antonio Visentini's engraving of the same site (Fig. 1), one of twenty islands featured in the Isolario Veneto, a second edition of which was published in 1777 by Teodoro Viero (see D. Succi, Canaletto & Visentini, tra Venezia & Londra, exhibition catalogue, Castello di Gorizia, 7 June - 21 September 1986, pp. 260-265, all reproduced; San Jacopo di Paludo on p. 162, no. 52, reproduced on p. 263).

We are grateful to Prof. Dario Succi for endorsing the attribution to Giacomo Guardi upon the basis of a colour transparency. Prof. Succi believes that the hand of Giacomo's father, Francesco, may be discernible in some parts of the staffage.