Turner's Rome piece up for auction

London

A MAJOR oil painting by JMW (Joseph Mallord William) Turner goes on sale in London on Wednesday amid renewed interest in one of Britain's greatest artists, sparked by an acclaimed film biopic.

Described by auction house Sotheby's as one of the greatest masterpieces of British art still in private hands, Turner's 1835 work Rome, from Mount Aventine is estimated to sell for £15 million (S$30.7 million) to £20 million when it goes under the hammer.