A painting of Venice by the Italian artist Canaletto which was once owned by the UK's first prime minister has been sold for ...

Giovanni Antonio Canal, Called Il Canaletto, Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day. Courtesy of Christie's. A ...

Canaletto's luminous Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day, has sold for a record price of £31.9 million at ...

The 18th-century masterpiece captures Venice in full splendour on Ascension Day, with the Doge’s golden barge - the Bucintoro ...

Canaletto’s sublime view of Venice, which once hung in the offices of Robert Walpole, the U.K.’s first prime minister, set a ...

A painting of Venice by the Italian artist Canaletto which was once owned by the UK's first prime minister has been sold for a record fee. Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day ...

A view of Venice by Canaletto has just set a new auction record for the artist, selling for £27.5m (£31.9m with fees) at Christie’s in London.. Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension ...

Venice: Canaletto And His Rivals is at the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing until January 16. Admission £12 (0844 847 2409, www.nationalgallery.org.uk).

Of course, Canaletto’s Venice is only part of the story: he hints at the city’s decay in the exposed bricks and dirt and vegetation tumbling from the columns of the piazzetta.

Christie’s is to sell a view of Venice by Canaletto which was once owned by Britain’s first prime minister, Robert Walpole, in its Old Masters evening sale on 1 July.

As Venice continued its long but sure decline, from great imperial power to tourist hub and floating museum, Canaletto profited. His principal clients were English milordi, wealthy young ...

Canaletto’s sublime view of Venice, which once hung in the offices of Robert Walpole, the U.K.’s first prime minister, set a new auction record for the Italian painter when it sold for £31.9 ...