Russian Antique. |
New world record for Canaletto painting
| Date: 08.07.2005 Source: news agency "Russian Antique" |
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| Canaletto. The Bucintoro at the Molo, Venice, on Ascension Day. Circa 1754. Sold for GBP11 million |
A painting by the 18th century Italian master Giovanni Antonio Canaletto with a view of the Venice wharf was sold for the record price of 11 million pounds (┬16.2 million, $19.3 million) at Christie▓s London on July 7. ╚The Bucintoro at the Molo, Venice, on Ascension Day╩ depicting the doge's barge in Venice harbor had been estimated to fetch up to six million pounds. The previous record for a Canaletto painting was set in 1992 and stood at 9.2 million pounds.
The remarkable canvas was painted circa 1754. It is the most monumental view of Venice of Canaletto's London years and his last ambitious celebration of what was the most spectacular of the annual ceremonies of the Serenissima. The painting coming from Portuguese businessman Antonio Champalimaud's collection was purchased by an anonymous buyer by telephone.
