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 painting is slightly more yellow and less red than it would appear in the catalogue illustration. The canvas has been relined and the paint surface appears to be in good overall condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint. Under a raking slight a small fleck of what appears to be surface dirt is visible in the sky, near centre as can be seen in the catalogue illustration. There also appears to be a varnish overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals small scattered retouchings throughout the sky and localised areas of surface dirt. There is also retouching in the darker pigments, most noticeably in the cliff face on the left and to a lesser extent to the curve of the distant arch. Overall the picture appears to be in good overall condition and any intervention appears to be cosmetic as opposed to structural. Offered in an ornate 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."

Preparatory drawings for this composition are recorded by Morassi as belonging to Eugene V. Thaw, New York (fig. 1) and in the Art Institute of Chicago (A. Morassi, Guardi; Tutti I Disegni, Venice 1975, pp. 188-9, nos. 643-4, figs. 616-7). Painted variants are also recorded by Morassi in a private collection, Milan, the Albertini-Carandini collection, Rome, and offered London, Sotheby's, 7 July 1993, lot 67 (A. Morassi, Guardi, 1973, vol. I, pp. 490-1, nos. 976-8; reproduced vol. II, figs. 860-2).