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JMW Turner masterpiece could hit record at auction

It is tipped to exceed its £15-£25 million estimate.
It is tipped to exceed its £15-£25 million estimate. It is tipped to exceed its £15-£25 million estimate.

A painting by JMW Turner which sparked terse exchanges with his publisher could set a new record for a British-born artist when it goes under the hammer.

Ehrenbreitstein (1835) is described as one of Turner’s “greatest masterpieces” and one of just a small number of major paintings by the artist remaining in private hands.

It could easily exceed its £15-£25 million estimate and set a new record when it is auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next week.

Members of staff at Sotheby’s auction house adjust an oil painting entitled Ehrenbreitstein (1835) by British artist JMWTurner (AP/Alastair Grant)

Another Turner painting, Rome, From Mount Aventine, sold in 2014 for £30.3 million – the highest price ever achieved for any British-born artist at auction.

Its estimate was £15-£20 million.

Ehrenbreitstein depicts a ruined German fortress near Coblenz, a place of special significance for Turner.

Sotheby’s staff move easels and plinths near Ehrenbreitstein (1835) by JMWTurner (AP/Alastair Grant)

Turner originally planned to paint a small watercolour from which his publisher could make an engraving but after falling in love with the view, he produced the huge painting instead.

His publisher was not happy as the complexity of the painting meant it took 11 years to complete the engraving, and the pair engaged in a number of terse exchanges.

Sotheby’s director of British paintings Julian Gascoigne told the Press Association: “It’s a very special picture to come up for auction. It’s from one of Turner’s most seminal periods.”

The image was also inspired by Byron’s poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.

“As an artist he’s really trying to say something important and quite powerful,” Mr Gascoigne said. “It’s more than a beautiful landscape. It was an incredibly famous and well known work during his own lifetime.

The painting is going under the hammer (AP/Alastair Grant)

“The power in which he captures the etherealness of light and atmosphere and weather conditions still remains very engaging and powerful today.

“But Turner also influenced later generations and foresaw the development of modern art.

“We hope it will break new ground when it comes on to sale next week.”

The painting is going on view to the public on Saturday for five days ahead of the sale on July 5.

Other works by the artist, whose face will be on the new £20 note, at the auction will include a watercolour sketch of the same scene.

The painting has been in the same collection for half a century, and was previously owned by Turner’s greatest patron Elhanan Bicknell.