JMW Turner’s ‘great love letter’ to Rome makes brief return to city before UK auction
Summary
A JMW Turner painting of Rome, called "Rome, From Mount Aventine," is being displayed in Rome before going to Hong Kong, New York, and London where it will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in December. The painting, which has stayed in private hands and shows Rome as it appeared in Turner’s time, is expected to sell for about £50 million, breaking its previous record sale.Key Facts
- The painting depicts Rome’s Tiber River from the Aventine Hill and was made by JMW Turner in the late 1820s.
- It is one of the few Turner works still privately owned and is shown on its original canvas and frame without restoration.
- Turner’s tool marks and fingerprints remain on the painting, showing his original working method.
- The artwork was last sold in 2014 for £30.3 million, setting a record for a Turner painting at that time.
- It will be displayed in Rome, Hong Kong, New York, and then London before the Sotheby’s auction on 9 December.
- The painting was first commissioned by Hugh Munro, a British amateur artist and friend of Turner.
- Turner painted other images of Rome, but this is the only one showing the city as it appeared during the artist’s lifetime.
- Sotheby’s hopes a public museum will buy the painting so more people can see it.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
