GIOVANNI ANTONIO CANAL, CALLED CANALETTO
Venice 1697 – 1768
LONDON, A VIEW OF THE OLD HORSE GUARDS AND BANQUETING HALL, WHITEHALL SEEN FROM ST. JAMES’ PARK
A view of London by Canaletto is a highlight at Sotheby’s sale of Important Old Master Paintings in New York next January 29. London, A View of the Old Horse Guards and Banqueting Hall, Whitehall seen from St. James’ Park is estimated at $4-6 million. The picture is a rare record of the Old Horse Guards (seen from across St James’s Park) which was demolished just months after Canaletto painted it (the prospect of its imminent demolition is what prompted Canalleto to paint and record it for posterity.) The building was then replaced with the large Palladian style grade I listed building that we know today. In May of 1746, Canaletto transferred his studio to London in pursuit of fresh challenges following two decades of prolific Venetian vedute painting.
It is from a group of paintings assembled by noted collector J.E. Safra. The 17 works represent a wide range of styles and genres including the Dutch Golden Age and 18th century Italian and French art. Most of them have been off the market for at least 20 years. They will go on exhibition in New York alongside Sotheby’s Old Master Week sales from January 24.