FOLLOWER OF BERNARDO BELLOTTO | Venice, the Grand Canal with the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, looking from the Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo towards the Bacino di San Marco

The actual painting is a bit warmer and shows more contrast than the catalogue illustration would suggest. The canvas has been relined (old glue relining). The painted surface seems to be in a reasonably good condition with thinness visible throughout. No major damages seem to be apparent. The painted surface is covered with two superimposed layers of craquelure pattern: the top one, which is more coarse and is confined to the area around the Dogana and the Salute and the part of the Grand Canal in front of it, seems to be in the varnish layer. The other one underneath which is more fine and dense is below the varnish layer. Some of the craquelure have been touched up, e.g. in the cupola of the Salute and some scattered throughout. The painted surface is covered with a discolored varnish layer and would probably benefit from a good cleaning. Under the UV light The varnish layer fluoresces for a larger part showing a strong and coarse craquelure pattern in the area of the Dogana and the Salute church; these may have been retouched. And some minor scattered retouchings mainly concentrated in the sky area are visible. Offered with a carved and giltwood 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. 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."

Our painting replicates, with some variations, an early picture by Bellotto of circa 1741 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (oil on canvas, 59,4 x 94,6 cm; inv. no. 186). In the present work there are ladies in the large bay windows added on the left, as well as some figures standing on the canopied balcony in the same building. Furthermore some boats and Venetian gondolas are added in our picture as well (see S. Kozakiewicz, Bernardo Bellotto, London 1972, vol. II, p. 13, under cat. no.  7).