Schranz painting draws special admirer

The great great great granddaughter of Giovanni Schranz has had the chance to view her ancestor's paintings at auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh, after an aunt of hers read an article in The Times about the forthcoming auction on Wednesday of the paintings.

Johanna Axisa (née Schranz) recently moved to Edinburgh with her husband and family, the auctioneer's consultant Philip Gregory said.

One of the paintings up for auction is an impressive and imposing work, "A View of the Grand Harbour, Valetta, from Corradino" by Giovanni Schranz (1794-1882). The painting, along with a second painting, a 'View of Grand Harbour during a storm', are valued at £40,000-£60,000.

The article in The Times was read by Mrs Joan Schranz, Johanna's aunt.

Mrs Schranz contacted Lyon and Turnbull about her ancestor's work and mentioned that her niece was now living in Edinburgh. Lyon and Turnbull in turn contacted Johanna and asked her in to view the paintings by her great great great grandfather.

The paintings come from Blair House, Ayrshire, ancestral seat of the 800-year-old Clan Blair.

The paintings have been in the family for over 150 years; the current owner's relative bought them during his time in the Royal Navy serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia during the mid -1840s.

Nick Curnow, managing director of Lyon and Turnbull and painting specialist, said that extensive research in recent years revealed much of the huge contribution the Schranz family has made to Maltese painting since the date of Anton's arrival on the island in 1817.

"From this time, and until his death in 1839 it can be difficult to separate the work of Anton and his sons Giovanni and Antonio both of whom studied under their father. It is not surprising therefore to learn that the distinguished art connoisseur and collector Count Saverio Marchese patronised not only Anton but also his son Giovanni who worked in his studio," he said.

On the death of his father, Giovanni opted to continue the family business and to increment his income by endorsing the new process of lithography.

Giovanni exhibited widely at the London Exhibitions of 1851 and 1886 and the Paris Exhibition of 1867, and his work was purchased by both Queen Adelaide, widow of William IV, and Queen Victoria.

"The discovery of this important pair of matched views of Valetta is a welcome and worthy addition to our knowledge of this distinguished artist," he said.

Anton Schranz was born in 1769, and married Isabella Howard in Minorca in 1794. Minorca at that time was a British Naval Base. They had 12 children, of whom one, Giovanni, the painter, moved to Malta in 1818.