Lot 18: Francesco Albotto (Italian, 1723-1758) A Venetian veduta with strolling figures 29 x 38 1/4in (73.7 x 97.2cm)

A Venetian veduta with strolling figures
oil on canvas
29 x 38 1/4in (73.7 x 97.2cm)

PROVENANCE:
with Frost & Reed, London (as Marieschi).

Several variants of this composition are known, all (with one possible exception) attributable to Michele Marieschi's pupil Francesco Albotto, at best. Three are illustrated in Mario Manzelli, Michele Marieschi e il suo alter-ego Francesco Albotto, 2nd ed., Venice, 2002. Manzelli accepts one version as by Marieschi himself (his no. M.64.01, fig. M.64.01), but this seems to be omitted by other writers on Marieschi, quite possibly correctly. Two other versions, one of them in the Museo del Castello Sforzesco, Milan, are given by him to Albotto (his nos. A.64.01, fig. A.64.01, and A.64.03, fig. A.64.03). The present work differs in some details from all of those mentioned.

We are grateful to Charles Beddington for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.