Protect our Children

The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

This report was prepare by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.:
This work is unlined and still on its original stretcher. The paint layer may be clean. It is mostly in good condition. There is a loss at the top of the “Protect our Children” sign and a few losses in the lower right of the sign. These are clearly visible to the naked eye and require attention. There is a vertical canvas grain in the back of the crossing guard on the left that may have been retouched. There are a couple of other tiny isolated spots of retouching in the architecture and figures, but these areas of the picture are generally in excellent condition.
The paint layer is noticeably different in the sky. Although it does not read clearly under ultraviolet light, it is possible that some cosmetic restoration has occurred here, particularly above and to the left of the marquee. The paint layer beneath the marquee seems to the original, but the blue and pink and white have a slightly different feeling. There are some visible losses in the cloud on the far left that need attention, and a few spots above the pigeon in the upper center. There seems to be some ongoing instability in the sky, which perhaps had given rise to some of the existing restoration.
It is recommended that the paint layer in the sky be revisited to determine if some of the paint is non-original and could be restored with a different approach.