JMW Turner’s ‘great love letter’ to Rome returns before UK auction

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

JMW Turner's painting *Rome, from Mount Aventine* will be auctioned in London this December with an estimated value of around £50 million, potentially setting a new record for the artist's works. The sale highlights growing demand for historically important British art and may place this exceptionally preserved piece in a public institution, enhancing access to Turner's rare portrayal of early 19th-century Rome.

A painting by JMW Turner depicting Rome is set to be auctioned in London this December, with expectations it will fetch around £50 million, surpassing its previous record price of £30.3 million paid in 2014. The work, titled *Rome, from Mount Aventine*, offers a rare and detailed portrayal of the city as it appeared during Turner’s lifetime, and has been described as the artist’s “great love letter” to Rome.

The painting, one of the few remaining in private hands, portrays the Tiber River as viewed from the Aventine Hill. It remains on its original canvas and frame and has never undergone restoration or relining, preserving the texture and marks made by Turner’s brushes and palette knife. Notably, Turner’s fingerprints are still visible, evidence of him handling the piece while working in his studio. Julian Gascoigne, a senior specialist at Sotheby’s London, highlighted the painting’s exceptional state of preservation, noting the delicate layers of translucent paint that contribute to its distinctive light and depth.

*Rome, from Mount Aventine* was initially commissioned by Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro of Novar, an amateur British artist and companion to Turner on several sketching tours in the late 1820s. Turner began the work during his 1828 visit to Rome, a period when the city was regaining vitality after the Napoleonic wars, and he continued refining it after returning to England. The painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1836, receiving mixed reviews at the time due to its unconventional use of color and light. Gascoigne remarked that Turner’s technique, which deconstructed forms and infused them with light, anticipated modern art movements including Impressionism and abstraction.

The painting has only changed ownership twice since its creation. It remained within Munro’s estate until 1878, when it was acquired by Archibald Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery and former British prime minister, as a wedding gift for his bride, Hannah de Rothschild.

Ahead of the auction, *Rome, from Mount Aventine* is being exhibited at Palazzo Rondinini in Rome before traveling to Hong Kong and New York. Mario Tavella, chair of Sotheby’s Europe, expressed hope that the painting might be acquired by a public institution, allowing broad public access to this significant work.

Turner’s connection to Rome was lifelong; he first visited the city in 1819 and returned several times, immersing himself in a vibrant artistic community near the Spanish Steps. While he produced numerous works inspired by Rome, this painting is unique in capturing the city as it appeared during the early 19th century rather than referencing an earlier era.

Sotheby’s anticipates strong interest from collectors worldwide, reflecting a broader surge in demand for masterpieces of this caliber in the art market. The sale on December 9 will test both the legacy of Turner and the current appetite for historically significant British art.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.