Unknown Canaletto work fetches £135,000 at auction
Unknown Canaletto work fetches £135,000 at auction
Ethan Gudge - South of EnglandWed, October 21, 2026 at 2:05 PM UTC
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Ruins of a Pavilion and an Arcade over the Water is a capriccio by the Italian artist Canaletto
A previously unknown work by the revered Italian artist Canaletto has fetched £135,000 at auction.
The rare artwork, known as a capriccio, more than doubled its estimated price at a sale by Mallams auction house in Oxford earlier.
Canaletto, whose real name was Giovanni Antonio Canal, was born in Venice in 1697 and went on to become a favourite of British art collectors.
Ahead of the auction, Mallams said the artwork had been created by the 18th Century Venetian master with a pen, brown ink and a light grey wash on paper.
It had been expected to sell for between £40,000 and £60,000.
Art historian John Rolfe said the Canaletto work, Ruins of a Pavilion and an Arcade over the Water, was a "masterpiece".
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He said it depicted "architectural splendours of the past in ruins" where "everyday life goes on amidst the shadows and sunlight".
The drawing corresponds with a Canaletto painting that was last sold at Christie's in 1995
Canaletto was a member of the Venetian art school, and was best known across Europe for his cityscapes depicting Venice and London.
But in his home country, his capriccios - fanciful imaginary scenes, often showing classical ruins - were held in higher esteem, Mallams said.
It said the previously unrecorded work corresponded with a Canaletto painting which was last sold at Christie's in 1995.
The work is thought to have been acquired by the Georgian composer and musician Charles Burney, and has been kept in the family since, the auction house said.
An inscription on the back of the work reads "a Present from Sig Canal d Canaletti", suggesting the artists had once given the work to someone as a gift.
Rupert Fogden, Mallams' director of fine art and pictures, previously said the auction house was "truly delighted to be entrusted" with the sale.
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Related internet links
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Mallams Auction House
Source: “AOL Money”
