The unique fabric Mellorda Joseph William Turner "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino" auctioned by old masters and British painting of XVI - first half of the XIX century. London July 7, 2010

at the evening auction of works of Old Masters and British paintings XVI - first half of the XIX century. In London, July 7, 2010 will be presented a unique painting by Joseph William Turner Mellorda "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino" (estimate 12-18 million pounds). This picture, painted in 1839, represents the best period of the artist, without a doubt, this is one of the greatest works of Turner, has ever put up for auction. The painting is in excellent condition. Prior to that, she appeared on the art market only once - more than 130 years ago. Then, in 1878, now have bought the newlyweds, the fifth Earl Rouzberi and Hannah Rothschild, and the canvas was in the collection of the family of Count Rouzberi far. What is the origin of the painting is known in detail, giving it added significance among the five major works of art Turner, remains today in private hands. Fine picture of the capital of Italy, a sun-drenched air panorama is the culmination of Turner's hobbies Rome - hobbies, which lasted more than 20 years.

Sotheby's owns the most successful sales history works of Turner. Commenting on the emergence of the auction the painting "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino, David Moore, Guin, chairman of Sotheby's UK and an expert on British art, says:« Turner in front of us on top of his skill. This is one of the most exciting images of Rome, there is everything: color, quiet beauty and subtle details, perfect condition and excellent provenance and exhibition history. This work - a real masterpiece of Turner's remaining in private hands. His appearance at auction offers collectors a rare opportunity. This is a real milestone in my 5-year career at Sotheby's ».

Italy admired Turner, this country and its culture have become one of the sources of his creativity. Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino "- this is truly a monumental work, measuring 90.2 x 122 is the last image of Rome in the paintings of the artist. It combines all the studies made by the artist during his two visits to the Italian capital. This is one of the most impressive landscapes of Turner, ever exhibited at the Royal Academy. Turner decided to accompany the picture lines of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," Byron: "The moon, but it is not night - Sunset /oppresses it, having half the sky". Turner not only captures the city at the moment between day and night, he managed to combine modern life of the city and its historic past. With fine details and bold use of color, he recreated the great city of shining, bask in the sun. The painting symbolizes the very essence of the Eternal City. Turner wrote the canvas from the top of Capitol Hill. The painting presents the viewer gaze Forum surrounded by a triumphal arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Saturn and the Colosseum. In the distance, with the familiar silhouettes of typical buildings, clearly visible on the left of the huge arches Baths of Diocletian, and completes the landscape silhouette of the Cathedral of St.. John Lateran on the horizon. This kind of reminiscent of a dream, is a magnificent heritage of the past - the Roman Republic and later Empire (the ruins of Ancient Rome), Rome, Renaissance and Baroque. However, Rome - Religious Center (shown on the canvas Catholic procession) and, of course, the Eternal City, so the foreground of the painting - the attributes of the daily life of the XIX century - herds of goats and ordinary citizens engaged in daily affairs.

Preservation paintings "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino" truly excellent, and her never to pull, it has never been restored. Canvas largely retains the freshness of the time when it was created. David Moore Guin said: « preservation of this painting - one of the most striking of its characteristics. It is simply impeccable, which helps to highlight the genius of Turner and demonstrate a variety of painting techniques that he used: cross-hatching on dry paint, thinning of the paint layer, the work of the tips of hair brushes - full set of paint texture and subtle nuances of color, being embraced by the artist. All this is visible even to the naked eye ».

first owner of the painting was a Scottish collector Hugh Monroe Novar, a close friend of Turner, who supported him in the 1830's, he bought the picture directly from the artist, with exhibitions in 1839 in the Royal Academy. Novar was one of the greatest collectors of works by Turner and the only one of his patrons, who traveled with him to Italy. "Modern Rome" remained in the meeting Novara almost 50 years and has sold his executors in 1878. Married Earl Rouzberi (1847-1929) and Hannah Rothschild bought the picture at an auction during his honeymoon for the incredible sum in those days in 4450 guineas. Ever since then, the picture was in the family and was inherited by the fifth Earl Rouzberi.

Provenance paintings completed its exhibition history and references to the literature, devoted to the artist. The canvas was exhibited in three exhibitions of the Royal Academy, and it was represented in the exhibition Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery, at a recent exhibition by JM William Turner at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Since 1978, the painting was in the lease at the National Gallery of Scotland, and recently, in 2009, participated in the exhibition "Turner and Italy" in Ferrara, and Budapest.

current record prices for works of J . M. W. Turner was installed on the painting "View of the Giudecca and the Church of Madonna della Salute and San Giorgio", which was sold in April 2006 for 35.9 million dollars, which is a record price, a product of British painting.

Sotheby's and Turner

Sotheby's has a successful history of record sales of works by William Turner at auction:

• «Temple of Jupiter," painting sold for 12.9 million dollars in January 2009. Second price paid for the work Turner at auction;

• « Pope's Villa in Tuikenheme ", painting sold to 5.42 million pounds in July 2008;

• «Bamborough Castle", the picture sold for 2.93 million pounds in December 2007;

• Unique Turner watercolors from the collection of Guy and Myriam Ullens have been sold for 10.77 million pounds in July 2007;

• «View of Heidelberg with a Rainbow", the picture sold for 2.04 million pounds in June 2001;

• «Seascape, Folkestone, painting sold for 7.37 million pounds in July 1984 - record price of works of Turner at the time;

• «Juliet with the nanny", the picture sold for 2.72 million pounds in May 1980 - a record price for Turner works at the time (the previous record set a picture of "Shipwrecked on the coast, it bought for 300 thousand pounds).

Only in the last three years (2007-2009 ) Sotheby's sold 34 works of J. M. W. Turner, totaling $ 55 million.

Cloth "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino" can be seen in the galleries of Sotheby's in New York April 29 to May 14, as well as in galleries at Sotheby's in London from June 4 to 7, from 16 to 22 June and from 1 to 7 July.

Source: press release Sotheby's