(London 1727–1802 Brühl near Vienna) Travellers in an evening landscape, oil on panel, 37.4 x 47 cm, framed

Francesco Casanova, the brother of the adventurer and womaniser, Giacomo Casanova, was born in London as the son of an actress. He trained in the workshops of Venetian vedute painters, under Gianantonio Guardi and later under Antonio Joli, until he dedicated himself to battle painting, influenced by Francesco Simonini. He matured quickly in this genre. At the age of 25 he took himself off to Paris where, on being accepted into the Académie, he began his career as an artist favoured by the ruling dynasties of Europe. He later moved to Vienna, thanks to the intercession of his friend and patron, Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne, where he was received by the all-powerful Prince Kaunitz. For Ligne, Casanova painted cheerful genre scenes, since the Prince did not have a taste for his battle painting. Ligne, the cosmopolitan and chronicler of the 18th century assisted Casanova to further international success. Tsarina Catherine the Great collected his works with enthusiasm and commissioned several battle and pastoral scenes, which are still held by the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Casanova’s success was based on his finely executed painting with its emphasis on coloration and on harmonious composition. The present painting exhibits these typical traits in his art.