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Chepstow Castle: Turner painting to sell for up to £50,000

PA Media Undated handout photo issued by Cheffins auctioneers of a JMW Turner painting of Chepstow Castle overlooking the River Wye which is to be sold at auction. The British artist was 19 years old when he created the watercolour painting, which has been kept 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, Cheffins auctioneers said. Issue date: Thursday March 16, 2023PA Media
JMW Turner created this watercolour painting of Chepstow Castle when he was 19

A painting of a Welsh castle by one of the UK's most renowned painters is estimated to sell at auction for up to £50,000.

JMW Turner created the watercolour of Chepstow Castle overlooking the River Wye in 1794 when he was 19 years old.

It is one of just two Turner paintings of this view known to be in existence.

The artwork, said to be in "immaculate condition", is to be sold at Cheffins in Cambridge on 22 March.

"This painting is an important record of Turner's early style which was developing at a fast pace at this time of his life," said associate at Cheffins auctioneers Patricia Cross.

Given its large scale and composition, she believes the artwork was likely painted as a presentation piece for an important patron like Dr Thomas Monro.

John Burrows An aerial view of ChepstowJohn Burrows
Chepstow is home to Britain's first stone-built castle

"The present view would have been created during one of Turner's first tours throughout England and Wales as a professional artist," Ms Cross added.

"Turner is considered one of the greatest landscape painters in the world, and this is an important collectors' piece, offering a glimpse into his painting style in the early part of his career."

The painting, signed Turner, depicts the castle overlooking the River Wye, showing the view from downstream of a wooden bridge, complete with a boat in the foreground, alongside a series of cottages.

It is being offered on the open market for the first time in nearly 100 years and is estimated to sell for between £30,000 and £50,000 when it goes under the hammer later this month.