Peruvian painter's take on Venice - Antiques Trade Gazette

A tiny 19th century Venetian oil by Frederico del Campo (1837-1923) went under the hammer for the first time in a century at Catherine Southon (18% buyer's premium)

Top lot in Catherine's auctions so far is the beautiful Federico del Campo scene of Venice, which sold for £23,000 on 7th June 2017. The unusually small size suggests that the oil on canvas was most likely a sketch for a bigger painting. The vendor had no idea what he had been looking at for years - it had belonged to his grandmother's father and he had not realised the importance of the artist.

San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, a 4 × 7½in (11 x 19cm) oil on canvas from 1885, had been in the same family since it was purchased, possibly from Christie's, at the turn of the 20th century. 

"He is best known for his paintings of Venice and the beautiful way he painted water." said auctioneer Catherine Southon. The shimmering and luminous quality of his paintings were achieved by using a bright palette, short, fine brushstrokes and delicate glazes.

The sale also featured a highly detailed mid-19th century watercolour by Edmund George Warren (1834-1909) depicting a picnic in a woody glade landscape by water. It sold to a phone bidder at €2500 against a €800-1200 estimate.

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