Carlo Bossoli

Galleria Cesarano, Milan
Acquired from the above by the father of the present owner in 1963

The artist's fine canvas is unlined, with three small circa 2 by 2cm patches on the reverse, corresponding to minor repairs in the sky: in the upper-left quadrant, above the horizon in the centre, and towards the right of the upper edge. The surface has a somewhat uneven appearance and surface dirt as visible in the catalogue illustration (comparable to the Bossoli landscape in tempera sold in Sotheby's Orientalist sale in 2014), with some scattered small dropmarks (notably to the left of centre) and faint minor abrasions, notably in the building to the far right. Taking account of the painting's large size and medium, the work is in good overall condition. The painting is presented in a simple modern frame, under glass.
"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."

Of Italian and Swiss descent, Bossoli spent most of his youth in Odessa, where his family had settled in 1820. Displaying a precocious talent for topographical drawing already in his early twenties, Bossoli soon earned the patronage of Viceroy Count Vorontsov, who sponsored his travels to Rome and Naples in 1839. Upon his return home, Bossoli was invited to stay at the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka where he worked on a series of Crimean views, some of which were published as an album of lithographs in Odessa and London in 1842 and 1853 respectively. One of the lithographs in the London edition is a view of the Khan's palace complex in Bakhchisarai very similar to the offered lot (fig.1), depicting the cemetery and the Great Khan Mosque to the right and the living quarters to the left. This album brought Bossoli to the attention of a wider, international audience and he was soon commissioned to travel to Constantinople, Malta and Milan to complete further albums and one-off views.