Turner’s ‘Rome, from Mount Aventine’ Unveiled in Rome Ahead of £50m Sotheby’s Auction

J.M.W. Turner’s painting "Rome, from Mount Aventine" (1836) was unveiled at the Palazzo Rondinini in Rome, an 18th-century baroque residence originally built by an art collector. This unveiling marks the beginning of a three-day exhibition, as reported on September 29, 2026. According to Sotheby’s, this is the most valuable artwork ever displayed by an auction house in Italy.

The painting itself depicts an umbrella pine tree in the foreground, set against the winding Tiber River. The city of Rome is shown stretching into the distance, bathed in soft light. The composition captures a panoramic view of the Eternal City, highlighting Turner’s skill in rendering atmosphere and light.

Sotheby’s describes the canvas as having an “astonishing freshness.” The painting has never been restored and remains on its original canvas and in its original frame. Notably, Turner’s fingerprints, scrapes from his palette knife, and even individual brush hairs are visible in the wet paint, underscoring the work’s remarkable state of preservation.

The three-day exhibition in Rome is intended to generate interest ahead of the Old Masters and 19th-century evening auction at Sotheby’s London, scheduled for December 9, 2026. "Rome, from Mount Aventine" will be the leading lot at this sale, with an estimated value of £50 million.

Following its display 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, and also points out the artist’s substantial presence in American collections. These stops are designed to showcase the painting to a global audience of collectors and art enthusiasts.

The painting will return to London for a final public display at Sotheby’s New Bond Street gallery ahead of the December auction. This tour allows potential buyers and the public to view the work in person before the sale.

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