New York:

A Venice canal scene by JMW Turner sold for $35.8 million — an auction record for a work by a British artist — at Christie’s on April 6.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the result,” said Rik Pike, a spokesman for the auction house. “It’s a testament to the strength of the Old Master market here.”

The painting was sold by the St Francis of Assisi Foundation, a nonprofit institution in New York that receives donations to support the missionary effort of the Capuchin order of friars.

A private collector had bought it in 1992 and donated it to the foundation, which did not display it to the public. When the work was exhibited at Christie’s in London last December it was the first time it had been seen by the public in more than 20 years. It was one of

three Venetian oil paintings developed by Turner for an 1841 exhibition at the British Royal Academy, where it sold for 250 guineas.

Last seen at a public auction in 1897, the painting broke the previous record for a British work held by John Constable’s The Lock at just over $21 million.

The Art Union hailed Giudecca, La Donna della Salute and San Giorgio as “a glorious example of colour, leaving, as usual, much to the fancy of the spectator; and absolutely exhorting applause.”

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) is considered the most versatile and successful landscape painter of 19th century England. He was at the height of his powers when he made his third trip to Venice in 1840. While there he painted around 150 watercolours, from which he developed three oil paintings for the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition of 1841.

The highest previous price for a Turner was $9 million for Seascape, Folkestone, in 1984.

The Turner was still some way off the most expensive painting ever sold, Picasso’s Garcon a la Pipe (Boy with a Pipe), sold in New York in 2004 for $104.2 million.