Manner of Antonio Canale, called Canaletto

The painting has been recently cleaned and conserved and presents a crisp, clear image beneath a fresh varnish. The canvas has an old glue lining which is firm on the stretcher and the paint surface is clean and stable. Inspection under UV reveals some more recent inpainting to the craquelure in the central section of the sky, a small filled and retouched loss in the darks of the final column of St. Marks at left and another in the ground lower center. There are fine dots and dashes of retouching scattered throughout the foreground and in the lower register of the architecture at right, though the figures remain largely untouched. There appears to have been an earlier campaign of restoration, primarily concentrated in the sky, though this is more difficult to read beneath the varnish. The painting requires no further work and is ready to hang. Offered in a simply carved 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.