Frits Thaulow

Possibly, W. Scott Thurber, Chicago
French Gallery, London (by 1921)
Rovis Colwell, Montreal (purchased from the above)
W.J. Gibbs, Montreal
Continental Galleries, Montreal
Purchased from the above by the grandfather of the present owner in 1954; thence by descent

Possibly, Chicago, The Art Institute, 1903, no. 27
French Gallery, London, 1921

Original canvas. There are no signs of retouching visible under ultraviolet light under a varnish. Apart from some artist's pinholes to the corners of the canvas, some small scattered areas of very fine craquelure and some very light surface dirt to the sky, this work is in very good condition, with a strong surface and fine detail. Held in a decorative, muted gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame with a name plate.
"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."

Painted in Verona while Thaulow was en route to Venice, the view is from the banks of the old town of Verona from the south side, looking towards the countryside. The massive Roman architecture of the Ponte de Pietra that crossed the swift flowing Adige river clearly made a strong impression on the artist. Thaulow painted it from all angles: from both banks and from both the bridge's north and south sides.

The present aspect of the river and bridge appears to have been the one that appealed to Thaulow most: at least five such views are known to exist. The largest (73 by 92 cm.) was purchased at the Salon de Gand in 1899 by the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. Of the five documented versions of this view, the present work may well have been the one exhibited at the Thaulow exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago in January 1903 (no. 27, lent by W. Scott Thurber, an art dealer in Chicago who lent three works by Thaulow to the exhibition). A study for the present work is recorded in an old photograph.  

Thaulow had previously been to Italy in 1885 and 1897. His reason for returning in 1899 was to serve on the selection committee for the Venice Biennale that year, along with John Lavery and Constantin Meunier. The trip turned out to be his last visit to the country.