Franz Richard Unterberger (Austrian, 1837-1902) Venice under sunset Oil on panel 10-3/4 x 20 inches (27.3 x 50.8 cm) Signed lower right: F R Unterberger Property from the Estate of Kenneth Alan Hill, Sr., Fort Worth, Texas PROVENANCE: (Possibly) Sotheby's, London, April 19, 1978, lot 44; Sale: James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine, August 19, 2014, lot 1240; Vallejo Gallery, Newport Beach, California; Acquired by the present owner from the above, 2020. In this work, artist Franz Richard Unterberger uses a much softer palette and broader, panoramic perspective, than other vedute painters, such as Canaletto. Here, the artist layers levels of detail over the vast expanse of waterway, with graduated reflections visually echoing his subjects: softer oranges and pinks in the sky and the façades of the buildings; punchy reds and blues in the attire of the passersby and bright white sails of merchant ships on the canal. In the distance, the two domes and bell towers of the Salute obscure the brightness of the setting sun, almost in the manner of an eclipse, and bathe the canal in an afternoon glow. We would like to thank Dr. Sybille Karin Moser-Ernst for kindly confirming the authenticity of this lot, which is accompanied by her letter. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved