Francesco Guardi

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 8 December 1995, lot 78 (one of a pair), for £56,000;
With Richard Green, London, from whom acquired by the present owner.

The catalogue illustration is not representative. It is more yellow in tone and closer in its colouring to the following lot than it is as represented. The canvas has been relined and the paint surface appears to be in very good overall condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint. There is evidence of a slightly yellowed varnish overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals what appears to be scattered minor dots of retouching throughout the sky, which is concentrated with old surface dirt in the right hand half of sky. There are also small dots of cosmetic retouching in the arch on the left, in the darker pigments of the wall below and in the shadowed foreground below that. Also and to a lesser extent there is very very minor retouching in the lower right. Overall though the canvas appears in good condition and intervention appears to be superficial and cosmetic as opposed to structural. Offered in a decorative gilt wood frame in good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Variants of this composition are recorded by Morassi as in the E. Hamill Collection, Chicago, and in a private collection, Bergamo (A. Morassi, Guardi, Venice 1973, vol. I, pp. 492-3, nos. 987 & 990, reproduced vol. II, figs 870 & 875).

At the time of the 1995 sale (see Provenance) Dario Succi dated this small canvas to circa 1785.