J.M.W.Turner’s Masterpiece Modern Rome J.M.W.Turner’s Masterpiece Modern Rome – Campo Vaccino To Be Offered For Sale at Sotheby’s in July Undoubtedly One of the
Most Important Turners Ever To Come to Auction --Exceptional Condition-
News-Antique.com - Mar 29,2010 - FRIDAY, 26 MARCH, 2010 --Sotheby’s is delighted to announce that in its Evening Sale of Old Master and Early British Paintings in London on Wednesday, 7 July 2010, it will present for sale Joseph Mallord William Turner RA’s great masterpiece Modern Rome – Campo Vaccino, with an estimate of £12-18 million. Painted in 1839, this breathtaking painting shows the artist at the height of his technical powers and is undoubtedly among the most important of Turner’s works ever to come to auction. The painting is further distinguished by its immaculate condition and impeccable provenance, having only appeared on the open market once in the 171 years since it was painted. The picture was bought by the 5th Earl of Rosebery, and his wife Hannah Rothschild, in 1878 and has remained in his family collection ever since. This uninterrupted provenance ranks this work as perhaps the most important of only five comparable major Turner oil paintings remaining in private hands today. The auction of this painting presents an astonishingly rare opportunity. Arguably Turner’s finest depiction of an Italian city, this sun-filled panorama represents the culmination of the artist’s fascination with Rome, a fascination which lasted a period of more than 20 years.
Sotheby’s has the most successful track record of selling works by Turner. Commenting on the forthcoming sale of Modern Rome – Campo Vaccino, David Moore-Gwyn, Deputy Chairman, UK and Senior Specialist in Early British Paintings at Sotheby’s, states: “This is Turner at his absolute best. One of the most evocative pictures of Rome ever painted, this picture has everything: a colourful, relaxed beauty, exquisite detail, flawless condition and superlative provenance and exhibition history. One of the last great Turner masterpieces to have remained in private hands, its sale at auction represents a onceinageneration opportunity for collectors and one of the landmark moments of my 35year career at Sotheby’s.” Turner was fascinated by Italy -like many of his contemporaries and predecessors – and it was a country which provided him with a rich source of subject matter, particularly given his interest in the rise and fall of civilizations. Modern Rome – Campo Vaccino is his final painting of Rome and the monumental work, which measures 90.2 by 122cm (35.5 by 48 in), brings together all of the studies that he made during his two visits to the Italian capital. One of Turner’s most compelling landscapes, when he first exhibited it at the Royal Academy Turner chose to accompany the painting with lines from Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage: “The moon is up and yet it is not night,/ the sun as yet divides the day with her.” However, Turner has done much more than merely capture the city lying in a moment between day and night; he has fused the city’s modern life with its historic past. Through meticulous attention to detail and a brilliant and bold use of colour he has recreated a sparkling city bathed in atmospheric light. The painting evokes the very essence and qualities of an Eternal
