One of J.M.W. Turner's earliest oil paintings, *The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent's Rock, Bristol*, painted when he was 17, will be auctioned at Sotheby's London with an estimate of £200,000–£300,000. The work had been misattributed for decades and sold last year at Dreweatts for just £600–£800 as a work by a follower of Julius Caesar Ibbetson, before cleaning revealed Turner's signature. The painting was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1793 and had not been publicly displayed for 167 years.
The rediscovery rewrites part of Turner's early career narrative, showing his innovative handling of oil to mimic watercolor translucency. The sale coincides with the 250th anniversary of Turner's birth, making it a significant moment for art historians and the market. The painting's journey from obscurity to a major auction highlights the ongoing importance of provenance research and the potential for hidden masterpieces to resurface.