Three Sketches of Arches (verso)

Characterized by loose, expressive pen work, the drawing suggests on-site execution, prioritizing immediacy over precision. The manipulated perspective of the piazza's buildings accommodates the breadth of the procession.

Probably commissioned by the Venetian state, this drawing precedes at least one other drawing and two oil paintings of the same event, now located in Berlin, Venice, and Milan. It is currently part of the Cleveland collection.

Created from the vantage point of the Procuratie Nuove, the work exemplifies 18th-century Venetian artistic practices of documenting significant public events. It also highlights the city's efforts to impress visiting dignitaries through elaborate displays.

While not widely known on its own, the drawing contributes to the broader understanding of Guardi's working methods and the artistic documentation of Venetian ceremonial life during the late 18th century.