I’d put it on my wall

JMW Turner’s ‘Rome, From Mount Aventine’, painted in 1935 and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1936, is considered to be one of the finest works from the later period in his life. It is also considered to be the most important view of Rome ever painted.

There are only a dozen or so major works by Turner in private collections. This one was bought by the fifth Earl of Rosebery in 1878 and has remained in the family ever since.

Although the painting is now over 200 years old, it has been preserved in mint condition. It has never been restored nor relined and the paintwork is said to be as fresh as the day it was painted.

Needless to say, it sold at auction by Sotherby’s at the record price of £30.3m. That is the highest value put on a work by a pre-20th century British artist.  

Unfortunately, we do not have a wall large enough to show this painting off properly which is why I did not make an offer!