Unknown Canaletto Drawing of Ruined Gallery Heads to Auction in Oxford with £40,000–£60,000 Estimate
On 21 October, Mallams in Oxford will auction a previously unrecognized pen-and-brown-ink artwork by Giovanni Antonio Canal, better known as Canaletto, with an estimated value of £40,000–£60,000 (approximately US$53,000–US$79,000). This piece, part of the artist's capricci series, illustrates a dilapidated gallery situated above a bridge, featuring a boatman below. An inscription confirms it was gifted by Canaletto. It is believed to have been acquired by composer Charles Burney in the late 18th century and has since remained in his family's possession. Canaletto expert Charles Beddington has verified its authenticity, while art historian John Rolfe connects it to capricci traditions. A similar work fetched £380,000 at Christie's London in 1995, reflecting the robust market for Canaletto's art.
Key facts
- A previously unknown Canaletto drawing will be auctioned by Mallams in Oxford on 21 October.
- The pen-and-brown-ink work is estimated at £40,000–£60,000 (about US$53,000–US$79,000).
- It depicts a ruined, overgrown gallery on an unstable bridge, with a boatman under a decaying arch and debris in the foreground.
- An inscription on the verso says Canaletto offered the drawing as a gift.
- The sheet was probably bought in the late 18th century by Charles Burney and remained with his descendants.
- Canaletto specialist Charles Beddington authenticated the drawing.
- The work dates to approximately 1746–1755 and belongs to the capricci genre.
- A related work sold at Christie's London in 1995 for £380,000.
- Canaletto's Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day set an artist record at £32 million at Christie's London in July 2025.
- Another painting on the same theme sold for US$30.5 million in February 2026.
- The record for a Canaletto capriccio is £2.2 million, set at Christie's in 1994.
Entities
Artists
- Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto)
- Charles Burney
- Charles Beddington
- John Rolfe
- Canaletto
- Giovanni Antonio Canal
- Katherine Gazzard
- Francesco Guardi
- Giovanni Paolo Panini
- Rupert Fogden
- Richard Whiddington
- Ethan Gudge
- Sonja Anderson
Institutions
- Mallams
- Christie's
- Dasartes
- Artnet
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- BBC
- Smithsonian magazine
- National Trust
Locations
- Oxford
- United Kingdom
- London
- Venice
- Italy
- England
- Wales
- Tasmania
- Miami
- North Dakota
- Mars