A masterpiece painted by Tiepolo considered lost for over 200 years, will be exhibited at Christie's auction

Auction house Christie's announced that in the evening auction «Significant works of Old Masters and British paintings», which will be held December 2nd, 2008 in London, will be billed considered lost canvas painted by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). This picture is one of the most significant finds of recent years, was discovered in the attic of French Chateau. There she hid the present owner's grandmother from the fact that the canvas depicts a luxurious poluobnazhennaya woman. Cloth, written, most likely on the order of Russia Empress Elizabeth (1709-1762), had never before been exhibited.

Tiepolo work exhibited in London, and tomorrow it will be offered for bidding. It was expected that the canvas will go under the hammer for around 700-900 thousand pounds. As part of the introductory auction exhibition also shows the two masterpieces were painted by Canaletto (1697-1768) with a total estimeytom in 7 million pounds (of the Moscow audience has to see at Christie's in Moscow), and not exhibited for two years, a portrait of Tahitian Princess brush, John Weber, trade descendants of the last Queen of Tahiti (estimeyt: 0,8-1,2 million pounds).

Richard Knight, Head of International Department of «Old Masters» Christie's and Paul Rayson, Head of the London department «Old Masters» Christie's: « Jobs Tiepolo - is one of the most significant discoveries in recent times . Cloth has been owned by one owner for over 200 years, leaving it perfectly preserved, and today we can see it almost as it was after the artist made the last stroke. Based on our experience, we can claim that private collectors have always attracted work with similar characteristics, ie the rare works that are in excellent condition. In recent years, with Christie's auction went three such works: the canvas Louis Carracci «Salmakida and hermaphrodite» (July 2006, 7.4 million pounds), John Livensa «Head of Old Man» (December 2007, 2.15 million pounds) and painting by Antoine Watteau «Surprise» (July 2008, 12.4 million pounds )».

International fame came to Tiepolo in 1750, when Venetian painters offered to decorate the ceiling frescoes in the palace of a German Würzburg. In the late 1750's Tiepolo received an order from the Russian Empress Elizabeth (1709-1762), daughter of Peter I, to create a series of paintings that were to decorate the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

It is believed that this series refers to the work of «Lady with a parrot» (located in the Oxford Museum Eshmolin) and «Portrait of a Lady with mandoline» (located in the Art Institute of Detroit). The third work, also presumably related to the series, entitled «Portrait of a young lady in mehah», lost and known only in pastels, executed by the artist's son Lorenzo, and at the Museum of El Paso. Between these three works, and recently found the canvas under the title «Flora» found a surprising similarity of style, composition, colors and size. It is this similarity suggests that the «Flora», together with three other paintings of a single series of works performed by order of the Empress. In a letter dated February 15, 1760 and written by FM Tassie wealthy collector box Carrara di Bergamo, says that «Tiepolo now working on a ring female portrait commissioned by the Russian empress, anyone who has seen this work, can not marvel at its beauty and subtlety ».

This picture «Flora» poluobnazhennaya depicts a young woman, holding in one hand a bouquet of flowers. Hair girl adorned with flowers, face turned slightly to the side, and eyes looking at the viewer with close interest. It is believed that, along with three other works from the series, these paintings serve as allegories of the seasons.

Early picture of history remains vague. Not known for certain, whether the series of works from Elizabeth, who died in 1762. At the same time, Tiepolo moved to Madrid, where the order of Spanish King Charles III began its work on the frescoes in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. We know only that the painting was in a French Chateau, starting from the XVIII century and was only recently discovered the owners of the attic, where she put the former owners, finding far too blatant.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Venice, 1696 - Madrid, 1770) is considered one of the greatest Italian artists of the XVIII century. Tiepolo was a continuing tradition of great masters such as Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. World fame came to Tiepolo in 1750, when he offered to decorate the ceiling frescoes in the palace of a German Würzburg. Work on the frescoes by Tiepolo helped lead his son Domenico. Upon his return to Venice Tiepolo has become known in the royal and aristocratic circles in Europe. In 1762 the artist arrived in Madrid, where the order of Spanish King Charles III began its work on the frescoes in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. Tiepolo work so impressed the king that he had asked the artist to continue working in the palace. Tiepolo died in Madrid in 1770.

In addition to the work of Tiepolo, the auction will be exhibited two paintings with views of Venice painted by Canaletto. It is assumed that the paintings were acquired through the mediation of Consul Joseph Smith (own collection of works by Canaletto which bought later King George III) and has since been transferred by succession the descendants of the owner. Cloth, whose total estimeyt is more than 7 million pounds, on display at the auction for the first time.

At the auction will be presented to it does not hold for two years, the portrait painted by John Tahitian Princess Weber proposed to bid the descendants of the last Queen of Tahiti. This is one of the three portraits of artists. The other two are kept in a museum in Greenwich, and the Admiralty in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Cloth is the first image of Polynesian and was the prototype for a number of later works, among which are the portraits of Tahitian Gauguin.

Source: Press Releases Christie's