Portrait of a lady, traditionally identified as Anne, Lady Russell, later Countess of Bedford (1615-1684), three-quarter-length, in a blue dress

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 canvas, which has a wax resin relining, retains a good tension on its stretcher, the bars of which are supported by metal springs. The paint surface is stable but much abraded and the canvas ground is exposed in passages of the flesh tones and background. A number of pentiments are visible, notably in the positioning of the diaphanous wrap, lower left. The portrait is very evidently unfinished with much of the background left unresolved and the presence of an 'aura' surrounding the head of the sitter, where the artist has started the dark background tone. 
Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a number of spots of strengthening to the flesh tones, the largest of which is in the sitter's forehead. There is widespread fine infilling to the craquelure in the flesh tones, strengthening to some of the darker tones and along the canvas edges, with further retouching eleswhere.