Pietro Bellotto (or Bellotti)

With Williams & Son, London;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 11 July 1958, lot 141 (As Hubert Robert) for £23.2s to Collin.

Relined. there is a slight degree of thinness in some areas of the architecture, but overall the composition reads well. craquelure throughout the sky and some old, discolored retouches can be seen with naked eye in sky and along bottom edge. under UV: there is some retouching along a diagonal line at the upper left corner of sky and an area of retouches at lower right corner. other very small cosmetic retouches are scattered evenly throughout sky and architecture. though some of these older restorations that have slightly discolored could be done better, the painting is presentable and could be hung as is. In a carved an gilt wood frame.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present work may depict the ruins of a French church.  Bellotti had moved from Venice to France by circa 1748 and is documented in Toulouse and later Nantes, Paris and Besançon (see C. Beddington, "Bernard Bellotto and His Circle in Italy. Part II: The Lyon Master and Pietro Bellotti, in The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 147, No. 1222, January 2005, pp. 21-25).