Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto

R.T. Paget, Esq., Q.C., M.P., London;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 11 June 1981, lot 111, for $32,000;
Anonymous sale ('The Property of a Nobleman'), London, Christie's, 11 December 1984, lot 129, for £30,000;
Anonymous sale, Zurich, Gallerie Koller, 29 November 1985, lot 5015 for 230,000 SF (approx. £74, 919).

London, B. Koetser Gallery, Old Master Paintings, 3 October - 16 December 1966.

W.G. Constable, Canaletto, Oxford 1976 and 1989, vol. II, p. 268, cat. no. 170 a) 2, reproduced vol. I, plate 196;
A. Corboz, Canaletto, Una Venezia immaginaria, Milan 1985, vol. II, p. 744, cat. no. P472, reproduced;
J.G. Links, A Supplement to W.G. Constable's Canaletto, London 1998, p. 18, cat. no. 170 a).

The following condition report is provided by Rebecca Gregg who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's. The canvas has been lined onto a secondary support; the adhesion between the layers appears good. There are no planar deformations and the overall tension is good. The stretcher appears sound and all the keys are present. The original paint layers appear in relatively good condition. There are no recent damages or loss and the adhesion between the paint and ground layers and the support appears good. There has been an extensive restoration campaign. There are relatively few distinct damages, in particular in the canal located approximately 5.5cm from the left and 7cm from the lower edge. The left edge, upper and majority of the lower edge has also been extensively repainted. The painting has been extensively retouched, especially the sky where there is a second layer of tiny brush strokes emulating a canvas weave above the over-paint. Many of the dark lines of the composition have been strengthened with retouching. There is a varnish layer present which appears specked under ultra violet examination. This is most noticeable across the large building on the right and across the boats. It appears as if this layer could be the remnants of an older fluorescing varnish layer which has not been cleanly removed from the canvas weave. There is a recent varnish layer present. The painting was examined in the frame.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The composition repeats the prototype in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen. To the right of the composition we find the church of Santa Maria della Salute, beyond it the Seminario Patriarcale and the buildings of the Dogana. To the left we see the Molo leading into the Riva degli Schiavoni, with the Zecca and the Palazzo Ducale at the extreme left.

We are grateful to Charles Beddington for endorsing the attribution on the basis of a photograph.


1. See Constable, under Literature, pp. 267-68, cat. no. 170, reproduced vol. I, plate 37.