Turner for Sale

Carol Vogel, reporting for the NY Times states a J.M.W. Turner. final landscape of Rome will be offered for sale at Sotheby's London.  Vogel states many believe the landscape is one of Turner's best.  It is titled “Modern Rome — Campo Vaccino” and was painted in 1839. The pre-sale estimate for the painting is $18-$27 million, with the sale scheduled for July 7th. The painting is fresh to market, with it last being offered in 1878.The painting was then bought in London by the fifth Earl of Rosebery.

Vogel states

It has remained in the family ever since. (One of the earl’s descendants, Harry Dalmeny, is deputy chairman of Sotheby’s in England and director of its country house sales there, which may explain how the auction house won the property.)

Sotheby’s expects the canvas to fetch $18 million to $27 million. “It’s the spectacular fruit of Turner’s two visits to Rome,” said David Moore-Gwyn, senior specialist in early British paintings at Sotheby’s, “showing the strength of color and light that you can only get in Italy.”

The painting will be on view at Sotheby’s in New York from April 29 to May 14, when buyers will be in town for the Impressionist, Modern and contemporary art auctions.

If the canvas ends up going to a collector who wants to take it out of Britain, the buyer will have to apply for an export license. In that event, would the National Galleries of Scotland try to stop it from leaving England?

“The National Gallery was given a chance to buy it,” Mr. Moore-Gwyn said. “There are large holdings of Turners in English museums.”

To read the full article, click HERE.