Giovanni Paolo Panini, 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio', 1743-4.
London, The National Gallery.

Recent Acquisition

'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio'

1743-4

Giovanni Paolo Panini
(1691 - 1765 )

NG6605

Room 38

Following cleaning and restoration, the recently acquired 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' is now on view in Room 38 of the National Gallery. The National Gallery acquired 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' in October 2006. It is one of Giovanni Paolo Panini's most extraordinary depictions of contemporary life.

'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' has not been seen in public for more than 70 years - it was last exhibited in 'Old Views of Rome' (Thomas Agnew and Sons Ltd, November to December, 1935).

Panini was the most successful view painter in 18th-century Rome, and his paintings remain some of the most impressive images of the Eternal City ever created. In his own lifetime Panini's reputation rivalled that of Canaletto in Venice. Although Panini was a popular artist with British tourists, present holdings of his work in British public collections are small.

The acquisition of 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' adds variety and depth to the National Gallery's collection of Canaletto and Guardi which is one of the best in the world. Two paintings by Panini and his workshop are already in the collection - 'Roman Ruins with Figures' and 'The Interior of St Peter's'. 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' adds a well-preserved and undeniably autograph work by the best Roman view painter.

'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' illustrates Panini's gifts as a master of architectural perspective and as a painter of everyday life with brilliantly orchestrated figural groups.

The painting shows a large crowd of people assembled to witness the lottery draw taking place on the balcony of the Palazzo di Montecitorio in Rome - something which occurred nine times a year from 1743 onwards.

The majority of Panini's works show more conventional views of Rome. 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' is a rare example of him portraying contemporary events. In this case, the painting affords a connection across the centuries because the lottery remains the game of chance most favoured today.

'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio' was accepted by H.M. Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the National Gallery in 2006 with additional funding from The Art Fund (including a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation).

Oil on canvas , 105 x 163 cm

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