by A JMW Turner painting of Chepstow Castle overlooking the River Wye will be auctioned where it has an estimate of £30,000 to £50,000.
The British artist was 19 when he created the watercolor painting, which has been held in a private family collection in London since 1956.
The artwork is signed “Turner” and dated 1794, with the attribution confirmed by leading Turner scholar Andrew Wilton, the Cheffins auctioneers said.
This painting is an important testimony to Turner’s early style which was developing at a rapid pace during this period of his life
Patricia Cross, Cheffin
It will be sold by Cheffins in Cambridge as part of The Fine Sale on 22nd March.
Patricia Cross, a Cheffins associate, said: “This painting is an important testament to Turner’s early style, which was developing at a rapid pace at this period in his life.
“His use of color and perspective and extraordinary attention to detail are characteristic of his work in the early 1790s and can be seen in various other watercolors of the period.
“Given its large-scale and highly finished composition, it is likely that this would have been painted as a presentation piece for an important patron, such as Dr. Thomas Monro, in whose collection this watercolor was found in 1833.
Turner is regarded as one of the world’s greatest landscape painters, and this is an important collector’s item, offering a glimpse into his painting style in the early part of his career
Patricia Cross, Cheffin
“The current vision was allegedly created during one of Turner’s first tours of England and Wales as a professional artist.
“Turner is regarded as one of the world’s greatest landscape painters, and this is an important collector’s item, offering a glimpse into his painting style in the early part of his career.”
JMW Turner died in 1851 at the age of 76.
The painting, which is being offered on the open market for the first time in almost 100 years, is one of only two paintings by Turner of this view of Chepstow Castle and bridge in Monmouthshire known to exist.
The other is currently held in the Courtauld Institute of Art.
The painting depicts Chepstow Castle overlooking the River Wye, showing a downstream view of a wooden bridge, complete with a boat in the foreground and the castle, alongside a number of cottages.
The version held at the Courtauld Institute is undated, less finished and smaller than the painting to be offered by Cheffins, according to the auctioneers.
Differences can be observed in the arrangement of the boats, the details of the town and castle, and the position of the figures on the bridge.
Cheffins described the painting as being “in immaculate condition”.
