The £12m Venice souvenir

TWO classic views of Venice by the Italian master Canaletto are to go on show in London.

The paintings are expected to fetch up to £6 million each when they are sold at Christie's in December.

One image is The Piazzetta di San Marco, looking west, with the Liberia.

The other is The Grand Canal, looking north-west from the Ca' Corner to the Ca' Contarini degli Scrigni, with the campanile of Santa Maria della Carità.

Paul Raison, Christie's director and head of old master pictures, said: "These two quintessential views by Canaletto were painted while the artist was at the peak of his powers.

"They are extraordinary, not only for their exceptional quality and condition, but for their provenance, which has seen them passed down the same family since they were presumably commissioned in the 1730s." The pair are believed to have been commissioned in 1738 by Thomas Brand of The Hoo in Hertfordshire, through the artist's English agent, Consul Joseph Smith.

They are being offered for sale by Mr Brand's descendants and will go under the hammer at Christie's in King Street, St James's, on 2 December.

From 29 November until that date they will be on public show at the auction house. The paintings are part of a group of four the other two were sold privately in 1953, and sold on again at Christie's in 2000 for £7.7 million.

Canaletto (1697-1738) specialised in landscapes and his views of Venice are considered to be some of the most accurate and stunning depictions of the city. His reputation was boosted by wealthy Europeans who travelled to the Italian port and returned with his works, spreading news of the artist's talent across the continent.

Canaletto benefited immensely from his relationship with Mr Smith, a merchant and collector who lived in Venice and became British Consul to the republic in 1744.

In 1762, Smith sold his collection to King George III, as a result of which The Royal Collection boasts an unrivalled group of paintings and drawings by the artist.