Turner's $66 million masterpiece returns to Rome

A Joseph Mallord William Turner masterpiece, valued at $66 million, has returned to Rome before it goes up for auction. Since the painting has never been restored, it offers a rare glimpse into the artist himself. CNN's Stefano Pozzibone took a closer look at the painting.

When focusing on the painting “Rome as seen from Mount Aventine,” Joseph Turner’s fingerprint can be seen, nearly two centuries later. And it's not the only mark he left behind, as there are also traces of a drawing knife, and even hairs from a paintbrush, still stuck in the paint.

This is because the painting was preserved in exceptional circumstances. Throughout its nearly 200-year history, it has never been restored. Turner painted it in the 1830s, after studying a view from Rome, which has changed greatly since the artist's time.

The painting was originally commissioned by Turner by his friend Hugh Munro, and then, in 1878, was purchased by a future British Prime Minister as a wedding gift for Hannah de Rothschild. It remained in the family's possession until 2014, when it was sold for nearly $50 million, setting a record for a Turner business that still stands today.

The painting returned to Rome before being put up for auction again in December, and this time Sotheby's expects its price to exceed $66 million.