This painting was done in 1747, and it shows a far different skyline to that we would see today from this same spot. And it has a sibling, looking the other way, called "Whitehall and the Privy Garden from Richmond House", which you can see as card two of this series.
The reason for the titles is that the paintings were commissioned by Charles Lennox, who was the Second Duke of Richmond. And we also know that they were painted by Canaletto in situ, from inside the house, looking out of a window. The terraces we can see before us belong to Richmond House, and, over the wall to the left, to Montagu House. We know that in the original design the Thames was much more crowded, and there were larger boats, plying their trade, which were not included in the final painting. We also suspect that the red roofed Royal Barges were added later, to give it more cachet and value.
Richmond House was sadly destroyed by fire, less than fifty years later, in 1791 but luckily these paintings, and some others, were saved. And, though most sites will tell you that they are now "in a private collection", I have discovered that the owner of that collection is, delightfully, the Eleventh Duke of Richmond, who lives at Goodwood House.
The Italian Art Exhibition was held from Wednesday January the 1st to Saturday March the 8th, 1930, at The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly; and the correct title was the "Exhibition of Italian Art 1200-1900". It had joint patrons, the Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom and Italy. Admission was a shilling and sixpence on Monday to Saturday, but, for some reason not Friday, which cost a rather swingeing five shillings. Or you could get a season ticket for one pound one shilling, which included every day of the week, even those more expensive Fridays.
All this information can be viewed online, because the official catalogue has been digitised by the Royal Academy and uploaded to the web.
As I have not featured this set, or the first series before, and there is relatively few cards in each set, I have listed them both below. However, once the first series makes an appearance that part of the list will be relocated.
| ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930 | - 1st series of 12 : | |
| 1 | "The Virgin and Child" | - A. Baldovinetti |
| 2 | "Fortuna Inconstans" | - Giovanni Bellini |
| 3 | "The Birth of Venus" | - Botticelli |
| 4 | "The Calumny of Appelles" | - Botticelli |
| 5 | "Madonna and Child" | - Botticelli |
| 6 | "The Lovers" | - Paris Bordone |
| 7 | "The Grand Canal and House of the English Consul, Venice" | - Canaletto |
| 8 | "The Duke of Urbino" | - Piero Della Francesca |
| 9 | "The Duchess of Urbino" | - Piero Della Francesca |
| 10 | "La Bella" | - Titian |
| 11 | "Portrait of a Lady" | - Raphael |
| 12 | "Angelo Doni" | - Raphael |
and :
| ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930 | - 2nd series of 12 : | |
| 1 | "The City of London from Richmond House" | - Canaletto |
| 2 | "Whitehall from Richmond House" | - Canaletto |
| 3 | "View of Murano" | - Canaletto |
| 4 | "La Madonna della Candeletta" | - Carlo Crivelli |
| 5 | "St. George & the Dragon" | - Francia |
| 6 | "The Tempest" | - Giorgione |
| 7 | "The Miracle of St. Dominic" | - Benozzo Gozzoli |
| 8 | "The Virgin & Child with St. Anne" | - Leonardo da Vinci |
| 9 | "The Angel of the Annunciation" | - Melozzo da Forli |
| 10 | "Virgin and Child with three Angels" | - Piero della Francesca (School of) |
| 11 | "Portrait of a Lady" | - Antonio Pollaiuolo |
| 12 | "Portrait of an Englishman" | - Titian |
The sets first appear in our original Churchman reference book RB.10, with a rather lengthy description, of :
- 81. 12. ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. (titled series). Size 3 5/16" x 1 9/20" or 80 x 62 m/m. Numbered 1-12. Fronts printed by letterpress, 4-colour half tone process. Backs in dark green, with descriptions. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall.
- 82. 12. ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Described "2nd Series of 12". Other detail as item (81), but different subjects.
They next feature in our original World Tobacco Issues Index as :
- ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Lg. Nd. ... C82-59
1. "1st Series of 12"
2. "2nd Series of 12"
And it is further shortened in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, to a single line, reading :
- ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION, 1930. Lg. Nd. 1. "1st Series of 12" 2. "2nd Series of 12" ... C504-545