A mutilated painting by Antonio Canaletto (1697-1768) representing a view of the river Thames from Chelsea in 1750 will be hopefully reconstructed by the National Gallery in London before the end of 1997 which will coincide with the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Venetian artist. The huge painting,which had been cut by the artist himself in order to transform it into a pair easier to sell, measured at least 96 x 225 cm originally. The first part was eventually bought in 1920 by a Cuban magnate who donated it to the National Museum of Habana. The second part remained in England and is now exhibited in Bickling Hall. The National Gallery hopes to reunite the two parts temporarily and eventually for good if the Cuban museum were willing to sell its painting.
A mutilated painting by Antonio Canaletto (1697-1768) representing a view of the river Thames from Chelsea in 1750 will be hopefully reconstructed by the National Gallery in London before the end of 1997 which will coincide with the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Venetian artist. The huge painting,which had been cut by the artist himself in order to transform it into a pair easier to sell, measured at least 96 x 225 cm originally. The first part was eventually bought in 1920 by a Cuban magnate who donated it to the National Museum of Habana. The second part remained in England and is now exhibited in Bickling Hall. The National Gallery hopes to reunite the two parts temporarily and eventually for good if the Cuban museum were willing to sell its painting.
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