Studio of Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto

Sir John Field Beale, by circa 1930;
Thence by descent to J.H. Taylor;
By whom sold, New York, Sotheby's, June 9, 1983, lot 65, for $130,000 (as Studio 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 has an old glue lining which supports the paint layer reasonably well, yet some cracking has developed in the sky on the left side, which may be an indication that the lining should be changed. The paint layer is quite dirty and although there is some predictable thinness, particularly in the black colors delineating the chimneys and window frames, in general the condition is well above average for this kind of picture. Most of the retouches that exist have blanched and they are visible with the naked eye in the sky on the left side, where they are a little lighter than they should be, and also in the ground in the lower and upper left. These retouches are not an issue. The picture should be fully cleaned and it is more than likely that a fresh lining would be appropriate. Overall, the condition is well above average, although this picture will respond very well to restoration.
"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 present painting is a larger studio replica of Canaletto's Piazza San Marco: looking West from South of the Central Line, in the collection of the Duke of Bedford, Woburn Abbey.  The original canvas was one of a set of twenty-four views by Canaletto painted for John, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-71).  These paintings, which were commissioned by the Duke circa 1731-32, came to Woburn Abbey in 1800; prior to that they had hung in the large drawing room and adjacent small eating room at Bedford House, Bloomsbury, which was torn down in that same year.¹

Two related drawings by Canaletto of the Piazza San Marco Looking West are recorded in the Queen's collection at Windsor (no. 7433) and in the Louvre (no. 4794).  In these drawings, however, the viewpoint is farther west, closer to the Procuratie Nuove, at left, and the Loggetta is not included.

 

1. See, W.G. Constable and J.G. Links, Canaletto, Oxford 1989, vol. I, plate 15, no. 27, vol. II, p. 197, no. 27.