BERNARDO CANAL | Venice, a view of the Grand Canal from Palazzo Balbi

The canvas is lined, the paint surface is fairly clean and the varnish is clear and even. The tone of the entire painting is set by the dark ground. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a fairly extensive campaign of restoration consisting of small, delicate and sensitively executed retouchings scattered throughout the sky, along the left and right margins, in the buildings, and parts of the foreground. There are small, slightly denser areas in the sky just above the rooftops and chimneys centre, and two small lines of retouching probably to superficial scratches, one upper right 3 cm. long., and the other lower right 5 cm. long. None of these are distracting and the painting is ready to hang without any need for further intervention. Offered in a plain painted wood frame with some losses.
"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."

We are grateful to Charles Beddington for endorsing the attribution on inspection of photographs. In addition to producing easel paintings depicting city views such as this work, Bernardo Canal was an accomplished painter of theatrical scenery and opera sets. He was the father of famed vedute painter Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto (1697–1768).  It was through practising alongside his father, especially in assisting him in scenery painting, that the young Canaletto learned the rudiments of draughtsmanship and perspective that would serve him so well in his view painting.