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JMW Turner Painting Bought for £500 Sells for Nearly £1.9 Million
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
A painting purchased for around £500 at a British auction in 2024 was authenticated as an early work by JMW Turner and sold for nearly £1.9 million at Sotheby's in July 2025.
Key points
- The painting, titled The Rising Squall, was initially misattributed to Julius Caesar Ibbetson.
- It was sold for £524.80 at Dreweatts auction house in April 2024.
- A signature reading W Turner was discovered during restoration, leading to its reattribution.
- The painting dates back to around 1792 and was Turner's first oil painting exhibited publicly.
- It sold for £1.5 million before fees, totaling approximately £1.9 million.
- Bristol Museum attempted to acquire the painting through a public fundraising campaign.
Key insights
- The painting's sale price reflects a growing interest in early works by Turner.
- Bristol's attempt to acquire the painting underscores the city's cultural connection to Turner.
- The restoration process revealed the painting's true identity, emphasizing the importance of expert evaluation.
Why it matters
This discovery highlights the potential for overlooked artworks to hold significant value.
Tags
Entities
JMW Turner· PersonSotheby's· OrganizationBristol· CityDreweatts· Organization
Source
Times of India
