Liggende en een lopende hond

About this artwork

height 119 mm x width 122 mm

Art Historical Context

Francesco Guardi, a leading figure of 18th-century Venetian art, created this delicate pen drawing titled *Liggende en een lopende hond* (Reclining Dog and a Walking Dog). Though best known for his luminous views of Venice, Guardi frequently turned to quick sketches of everyday subjects, capturing fleeting moments with remarkable economy of line. The tiny sheet, measuring just 119 by 122 millimeters, invites close viewing and reveals the artist’s interest in the natural world beyond his famous cityscapes. Executed solely in pen, the work highlights Guardi’s fluid draftsmanship. Short, confident strokes suggest the relaxed posture of one dog while conveying the gentle motion of the other, demonstrating how a few well-placed marks can imply life and movement on such a small scale. Such studies were often kept in artists’ studios for later reference, offering modern viewers an intimate glimpse into the creative process of one of Venice’s last great Rococo masters. Today the drawing stands as a charming example of 18th-century draftsmanship, reminding us that even the humblest subjects could inspire Guardi’s observant eye. Its modest size and spontaneous quality continue to delight visitors who appreciate the quiet poetry found in simple animal studies.

About the Artist

Francesco Guardi · 1712–1793

Francesco Lazzaro Guardi (1712–1793) was born into a noble family of painters from Trentino who had settled in Venice. His father, Domenico Guardi, a minor painter trained in Vienna, died in 1716, leaving young Francesco to inherit the family workshop alongside his brothers Giovanni Antonio (Gian Antonio) and Niccolò, both artists, and sister Maria Cecilia, who married the renowned Giovanni Battis...