2-722-217 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

A Procession of Triumphal Cars in the Piazza San Marco, Venice, Celebrating the Visit of the Conti del Nord (recto) Three Sketches of Arches (verso), 1782. This rapidly drawn pen study records the festivities in the Piazza San Marco held by the Venetian state for the visiting dignitaries from Russia, Grand Duke Paul (Pavel) Petrovitch, son of the Russian empress Catherine the Great, and his wife, Maria Feodorovna. The couple traveled incognito as the "count and countess of the North" and were celebrated throughout Europe during their extended tour. Guardi's drawing may have been made on the spot during the couple's visit to Venice and is much livelier than subsequent versions he made of the same scene.