Probably painted c.1800, the 19in x 2ft 10in (48 x 88cm) oil on lined canvases by Anton Schranz (1769-1839) depict Minorca’s Port Mahon dotted with figures and sailing vessels.
Schranz, who lived most of his life in Minorca, specialised in painting and engraving landscapes and seascapes, notably of Port Mahon. He found patronage among British naval officers who bought his works as topographical souvenirs. The pair had hung in a local Cumbrian house since being acquired at Sotheby’s in 1984 for £10,000.
In good restored condition, they were entered with an attractive £12,000-18,000 estimate but went on to sell for £20,000 to an unknown buyer on the phone.
A view of Valetta in Malta, where the artist moved to in 1817, holds the artist’s auction record of £40,000 at Sotheby’s in November 2000.
