It has come from a property where it is believed to have hung for over 50 years and has been consigned to auction following the recent death of a family member.
The oil on canvas carries a label on the back for Mayfair dealer Arthur Tooth and Sons as well as an intriguing inscription: Auguste Châtelain.
The inscription to the back of the painting at Gorringe's.
Châtelain was a Swiss psychiatrist, writer and historian who became a rector at the University of Neuchâtel in the early 20th century. He is believed to have owned at least one other work by Canaletto: The Lock at Dolo dated to c.1755, which was offered by London dealer Robilant + Voena and had been inscribed in the same way with Châtelain’s name on the relined canvas.
The Gorringe’s picture is believed to be that appearing in WG Constable’s Canaletto monograph (1989 edition revised by JG Links) with the comment “probably once formed part of larger picture”.
The auction house, though, stated: “The composition functions very well as it is and in the absence of technical evidence to demonstrate it may have been reduced in size, there is no reason to assume it was not conceived in its current format.”
The painting is estimated at £100,000-150,000 at Gorringe’s sale on September 28.
