Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lost Canaletto Masterpiece Surfaces for Auction
Lost Canaletto Masterpiece Surfaces for Auction
6 Oct
Summary
- An unknown Canaletto artwork, a capriccio, is to be auctioned.
- The rare piece is expected to sell for £40,000 to £60,000.
- Art historians have praised the work as a 'masterpiece'.
A previously unknown work by the renowned Venetian artist Canaletto is making its debut at auction. This rare artwork, identified as a capriccio, is expected to attract significant interest from collectors.
Estimated to achieve a price between £40,000 and £60,000, the piece will be sold by Mallams auction house in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, later this month. Canaletto, born Giovanni Antonio Canal in Venice in 1697, was highly favoured by British art enthusiasts.
Created with pen, brown ink, and a light grey wash on paper, the artwork is titled 'Ruins of a Pavilion and an Arcade over the Water.' Art historian John Rolfe has lauded the drawing as a 'masterpiece,' emphasizing its depiction of historical architectural elements.
Rolfe noted that the work showcases 'architectural splendours of the past in ruins' with 'everyday life goes on amidst the shadows and sunlight.' He further commented that this drawing exemplifies the qualities that appealed to contemporary collectors and inspired future artists.
