A long-overlooked watercolor of Venice by the legendary British painter JMW Turner has emerged from decades of misattribution, potentially commanding up to $500,000 at Christie’s upcoming auction in New York, per artnet.com.
The atmospheric sketch of the Venetian lagoon, dating to around 1840, was recently identified through Christie’s digital appraisal service after being incorrectly attributed to Victorian art critic John Ruskin. The discovery has increased the work’s value tenfold, highlighting the dramatic impact of proper attribution in the art market.
The painting’s journey is as fascinating as its rediscovery. It belonged to Haddon C. Adams, a British-born engineer who immigrated to Illinois and served as the US chief bridge engineer. Adams, a passionate Ruskin collector who acquired the piece around 1930, unknowingly possessed a genuine Turner, though it was correctly attributed at the time of his purchase.
Christie’s specialist Rosie Jarvie’s keen eye spotted Turner’s distinctive style despite poor photograph quality and aged glass. “The strong brushstrokes, economy of line and the palette” prompted further investigation. Subsequent analysis by Turner expert Peter Bower confirmed the attribution through paper analysis, matching it to other Venice views by the artist.
The work, titled “The Approach to Venice or Venice from the Lagoon,” will headline Christie’s Old Master and British Drawings sale on February 4. This discovery joins a growing list of Turner rediscoveries, including a Welsh cathedral watercolor that sold for £37,000 last year after being purchased for just £100 within a larger collection.
As the art world anticipates the auction, this remarkable find underscores the enduring appeal and value of Turner’s masterful watercolors, while reminding us that significant artistic treasures may still lurk in private collections, waiting to be recognized.
- Image: JMW Turner, The Approach to Venice or Venice from the Lagoon (c. 1840)/Christie’s Images Ltd. 2025
