Portrait of a lady, half-length, in a blue dress; and Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, in a black coat and cartwheel ruff

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.

These unlined canvases remain structurally stable, though with visible undulations. There is some visible pain loss in the lower right corner of the portrait of the gentleman, associated with frame wear, as well as in the upper quadrant, with a horizontal damage evident due to the canvas having historically rested on its stretcher. Both paintings appear to have had restoration along the edges of the canvases due to frame wear. Ultraviolet examination reveals the aforementioned as well as extensive infilling in the craquelure, as well as to a tear in the lower right of the woman’s portrait, with some further scattered restoration. In the portrait of the gentleman, ultraviolet light reveals restoration to the face as well as to the craquelure, and extensive restoration in the background and throughout. There is evidence of natural ageing in the increased transparency of some of the thinnest dark glazes in of both paintings.