Lord Rothermere formed an exceptional collection of pictures by Francesco Guardi, which included the famous set of four views of villas painted for John Strange (A. Morassi, Guardi, Venice, 1973, I, pp.436-7, nos.680-3, and II, figs.635-42; the view of the Villa Loredan at Paese was sold in these Rooms, 8 Dec. 1989, lot 114). These were not included in Lord Rothermere's posthumous sale at Christie's, in which were sold no less than fourteen paintings by (or then said to be by) Francesco Guardi. They included Morassi nos.319, 434, 504 and 632 but his catalogue entries make it clear that Professor Morassi was unaware of the Rothermere sale. Thus it is not surprising that he makes no reference to the present picture, which has not been seen in public since then