English Follower of Canaletto, late 18th Century

With Richard Green, London, 1982 (as by William James).

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This large painting has been effectively restored. Although it may be slightly dirty, it is in very presentable condition. All of the restoration seems to be visible under ultraviolet light, and it is almost entirely confined to the sky. The only real concentration of restoration is in the vertical stretcher marks in the sky, on the left side and along the left edge. Although the work is presentable as is, the retouches are perhaps somewhat broad and there are some very loose retouches that could be reexamined across the top edge above the clouds on the right. Overall, the condition is very good.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This painting depicts the entrance to the Grand Canal, looking west. To the left, in the foreground we see the Punta della Dogana, with Santa Maria della Salute offset behind it and to the right we see Palazzo Tiepolo, now the Hotel Britannia. The composition relates to a work by Canaletto in the Royal Collection (see W.G. Constable, Canaletto, Oxford 1976, vol. II, no. 161, reproduced vol. II, plate 36) and a number of these compositional variants have been attributed to the artist William James, who was reputed to have been an assistant to Canaletto when he was working in London.