Giuseppe Bernardino Bison

Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Private Collector, California"), New York, Sotheby's, June 1, 1990, lot 85 (as Follower of Canaletto).

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in good condition. The canvas has been lined and there is very little, if any, restoration in the buildings or foreground, which is quite remarkable. There is a small retouch in the red awning in the gondola on the right side. In the sky there are restorations visible under ultraviolet light above the buildings in the center, yet in the upper sky, there are very few restorations. There is one restoration on the left side and a few restorations on the right side. These are isolated paint losses rather than restorations which address abrasion. The picture is probably slightly dirty but could be hung as is.
"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 of this painting is a variant of a similar composition by Canaletto, now in the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo.