William Callow R.W.S.

With John Manning, London, by 1961;
sale, London, Christie's, 10 July 2014, lot 202

The image has a clear and fresh look. However, the pigments have probably softened with time. The inscription and signature are faded. The work has been laid down.
"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."

It has been suggested that this watercolour dates from 1840, the year that Callow first visited Venice. In his memoirs, written many years later, he recalled how ‘one evening, whilst he was enjoying a cigar in a gondola [he] saw Turner sketching San Giorgio, brilliantly lit up by the setting sun.'¹ Indeed, a Turner sketch of this great church does survive at Tate Britain.² In the present watercolour, we see Callow’s own interpretation of the building’s fine Palladian architecture.

1. Ed. H.M. Cundall, William Callow R.W.S., F.R.G.S. An autobiography, London 1908, pp. 66-7
2. T.B. CCCXVI 28