Turner’s £50m Painting Exhibited in Rome Ahead of Sotheby’s Auction

On 29 September 2026, J.M.W. Turner’s painting "Rome, from Mount Aventine" (1836) was unveiled at the Palazzo Rondinini in Rome. The Palazzo Rondinini is an 18th-century baroque residence built by an art collector. This unveiling marks the start of a three-day exhibition of the painting in Rome. The exhibition is intended to generate interest ahead of the Old Masters and 19th-century evening auction at Sotheby’s London, which is scheduled for 9 December 2026. The auction will be led by "Rome, from Mount Aventine."

The painting itself depicts an umbrella pine tree set against the winding river Tiber, with the city of Rome bathed in soft light and stretching into the distance. Sotheby’s describes the canvas as having an “astonishing freshness.” Details such as Turner’s fingerprints, scrapes from his palette knife, and individual brush hairs are visible in the wet paint. The work has never been restored and remains on its original canvas and in its original frame.

According to Sotheby’s, the Rome exhibition makes "Rome, from Mount Aventine" the most valuable work ever shown by an auction house in Italy. After the exhibition in Rome, the painting will travel to Sotheby’s galleries in London, Hong Kong, and New York. The auction house notes high interest in Turner among Asian clients, which is reflected in the Hong Kong stop. The New York showing is noted because Turner has a substantial presence in American collections.

The painting will finally return to London for display at Sotheby’s New Bond Street gallery ahead of the 9 December sale. The sale is part of Sotheby’s Old Masters and 19th-century evening auction, with "Rome, from Mount Aventine" as the leading lot.

Sotheby’s representatives have expressed confidence that the return of this work to auction marks a significant opportunity for collectors. They hope this will be reflected in the bidding during the December auction.

The exhibition in Rome, followed by the international tour, is designed to attract attention from collectors in multiple markets. The painting’s exceptional condition and provenance are highlighted by Sotheby’s as key features.

The tour and upcoming auction of "Rome, from Mount Aventine" provide an opportunity for collectors to view and potentially acquire a significant work by Turner, with Sotheby’s emphasizing both its artistic and historical value.