Turner Masterpiece Heads Toward Record Auction
At a Glance
- J.M.W. Turner’s “Rome, From Mount Aventine” is on display in Rome.
- Sotheby’s expects the painting to fetch about €50 million at auction.
- The 1836 landscape will be auctioned in London on December 9.
- The work previously set a Turner auction record when it sold in 2014.
One of J.M.W. Turner’s most celebrated landscapes has returned to Rome ahead of a major London auction that could set a new record for the British artist.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Turner’s Technique: “As if it was watercolor, building it up in successive translucent layers of hazy light and glazes.” — Julian Gascoigne, Sotheby’s senior specialist in British paintings.
- Painting’s Value: The estimated price reflects the work’s “rarity, provenance and condition.” — Mario Tavella, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe.
- Focus Area: The painting’s upcoming sale highlights its artistic significance, exceptional preservation, and long history in prominent private collections.
Rome Display Before London Sale
“Rome, From Mount Aventine” was unveiled at Palazzo Rondinini in Rome on Tuesday and will remain on public display for three days.
The 1836 painting presents a panoramic view of Rome from Aventine Hill, overlooking the Tiber River. Sotheby’s describes it as one of the most significant Turner paintings still held privately.
Turner drew inspiration for the work during a visit to Rome in 1828. According to Sotheby’s, he likely began the painting during that trip before completing it in London for exhibition at the Royal Academy.
A Rarely Seen Example Of Turner’s Work
The painting’s condition is a major feature of the upcoming sale. Sotheby’s says its preservation allows viewers to examine Turner’s methods in unusually clear detail.
The artist combined thin layers of oil paint with thicker brushwork and scraping techniques. He also occasionally used his fingers as part of the painting process.
A Long Collecting History
The work was commissioned by Turner’s patron Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro before entering the collection of Archibald Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery.
Primrose later served as British prime minister and acquired the painting for his wife, Hannah de Rothschild, who was among Britain’s wealthiest women at the time.
The painting remained with the Rosebery family for more than a century before being sold by Sotheby’s in 2014 for $47.6 million.
It has remained with its current owner since that sale. The upcoming auction is scheduled for December 9 in London, with an estimate of about €50 million.
FYI
Turner is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most influential landscape painters, known for his treatment of light, atmosphere, and movement. His later works in particular pushed the boundaries of traditional landscape painting through loose brushwork and luminous color.
“Rome, From Mount Aventine” belongs to a group of works inspired by Turner’s repeated visits to Italy. His Italian landscapes became important parts of his career and helped shape his approach to light and atmosphere.
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