Canaletto’s most celebrated Venetian subjects, the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal and St. Mark’s Square, will be offered as a pair at Sotheby’s in London on December 4 next. Painted between 1738 and 1742 and from the HSBCS Collection the paintings are extimated at £8-12 million. The works will be exhibited in Europe including Moscow, the US and Hong Kong prior to sale.
It is thought the works are likely to have been an English grand tourist’s commission. In the second half of the 18th century they entered the collection of banker John Furnell Tuffen. At his sale in 1818 they were bought by William Lygon, 2nd Earl Beauchamp, in whose family they remained for five generations until 1939. They lived at Madresfield Court in Worcestershire, the inspiration for Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead. The remained in private collections until 1997 when acquired by Safra Republic Holding which was acuired by HSBC in 1999. (Click on either image to enlarge).
Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto Venice 1697 – 1768 Venice, a view of the Piazza San Marco looking East towards the Basilica and the Campanile
Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto Venice 1697 – 1768 Venice, a view of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. UPDATE: THE PAIR SOLD FOR £9,602,500