Giovanni Antonio Guardi

Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg (1671-1747), Venice (one of a series of 43 Turkish scenes commissioned from the artist and paid for between 1741 and 1743);
With Galleria Lorenzelli, Bergamo, before 1973;
Private collection, Bergamo, by 1973.

R. Pallucchini and M. Valsecchi, Galleria Lorenzelli, Venezia 700: Francesco Guardi e il suo tempo nelle raccolte private bergamasche, Bergamo 1969, cat. no. 13;
A. Morassi, "Una mostra di pitture veneziane del Settecento a bergamo," in Arte Veneta, 1969, pp. 109-111;
A. Morassi, Guardi: I dipinti, Milan 1973, vol. I, p. 329, cat. no. 109, reproduced vol. II, fig. 129;
F. Pedrocco, Antonio Guardi, Milan 1992, p. 131, cat. no. 68, reproduced p. 209, fig. 86;
A. Bettagno, I Guardi: Vedute, capricci, feste, disegni e quadri turcheschi, exhibition catalogue, Milan 1993, p. 104, cat. no. 38, reproduced p. 105.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in good condition. However, it seems to be quite dirty despite its thick and glossy varnish. No retouches are identifiable under ultraviolet light because of this varnish, except for possibly some strengthening in the seated female figure in the lower center right and a few other tiny spots. It does not seem that many restorations would be revealed if the picture were cleaned. There may be some restoration in the wallpaper around the vase of flowers. It is possible that the rope holding the swing has become slightly thin. The darker colors and the edges may have received some retouches, as is often the case in pictures like these. The old lining is stabilizing the paint layer, but the surface is slightly lumpy and could be improved. The painting could be hung as is, but it should respond well to cleaning and restoration.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This enchanting harem scene once formed part of a unique series of forty-three paintings commissioned between 1741 and 1743 by Guardi's long-time patron, Count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg (fig. 1). The series depicts individual scenes of daily life in Turkey, an intriguing choice of subject matter for the German aristocrat. A fervent collector, the Count was Giovanni Antonio Guardi’s principal patron, employing him on a monthly retainer, and the turcherie proved to be his most significant commission.

Count von Schulenburg was a mercenary soldier who fought against the Turks in Hungary with the Imperial troops. It was the count's success here that led to his recruitment by the Venetians, eventually rising to become Field Marshall and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the Venetian Republic. He was idolized by the Venetians after his victory against the Ottoman Turks at Corfu in 1715 and was decorated by the Serenissima before finally retiring in Venice in 1718. It is fascinating that the Count would commission Guardi to paint such an extensive collection of pictures depicting quotidian and predominantly serene scenes of the lives of his former enemy, over twenty years after his final battle against them.