Dutch Men o'war on choppy waters

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.

The painting presents well in natural light, with the detail of the ships well preserved. The canvas has been subject to relining; it is held under tension and remains stable. In a raking light scattered retouchings can be seen, notably to the sky. some of these appear to be restorations to minor punctures to the canvas, such as the circular restoration at upper centre and the two in the sea beneath the ship at far right. There has been some thinning to the upper paint layers as a result of the relining process. There is an old varnish which carries some dirt. Examination under UV light confirms the aforementioned retouchings, and suggests that there have been at least two historic restoration campaigns. The paint remains stable.