Carnival Thursday on the Piazzetta

Francesco Guardi depicted Venice's carnival celebrations in the Piazzetta, the small square beside St. Mark's. Masked revelers and entertainers fill the space as the city indulges in its famous pre-Lenten festivities.

Guardi's views of Venetian festivals preserve the spectacles that made the city a destination for travelers across Europe. His atmospheric brushwork captures the energy and movement of crowds. The painting hangs at the Louvre in Paris.