Interior: A Sultana taking Coffee in the Harem
Giovanni Antonio Guardi·1742–43
Historical Context
Giovanni Antonio Guardi painted this Interior scene of a Sultana taking Coffee in the Harem in 1742-43, one of his Orientalist fantasy scenes that reflected European fascination with Ottoman culture. The elder Guardi brother was primarily a figure painter who collaborated with his more famous sibling Francesco on decorative cycles for Venetian palaces. These imaginary harem scenes, inspired by travel literature and theatrical productions, catered to the Venetian taste for exotic subjects.
Technical Analysis
Guardi's oil on canvas renders the imaginary harem interior with the warm, flickering brushwork characteristic of the Venetian Settecento. The exotic costumes and the intimate domestic scene are painted with the rapid, atmospheric technique that the Guardi workshop applied to all subjects, from devotional paintings to architectural views.
Provenance
One of more than forty cabinet pictures of Turkish highlife commissioned by Field Marshall Matthias Johann, Graf von der Schulenburg (d. 1747) Venice. By descent to his nephew Christian Gunther von der Schulenburg, transferred from Venice to Hehlen, near Hannover. By descent in the Schulenburg family until c. 1952 or shortly thereafter. Sold by Count Johann Heinrich von der Schulenburg. Private collection, Switzerland. Wildenstein and Co., from March , 1957 sold to Mrs. Joseph Regenstein, 1964. Gift of Mrs. Regenstein, 1964.
