The Adoration of the Magi

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 panel is approximately 1/4 inch thick and appears to comprise two vertically-oriented boards. It is reinforced on the reverse with a vertical wooden batten running down the center of the panel, and a second wooden batten secured to the upper half of the panel, 3 inches from the left edge. A red wax seal is affixed to the reverse. Under natural light, the varnish is mostly clear, but cloudy in a few places. The paint is mostly stable on the support, however, there is flaking, tenting and corresponding losses visible over the curtain at upper left. There are two losses and corresponding scratches over the ox’s head at center left. A 1/4 inch loss is visible at the center of the right edge and two pinhead-sized losses on Joseph’s robe at the left edge near his thigh. Retouching has gone matte over the central panel join in places, as well as over a vertical crack running from the standing Magus’s head up to the upper edge (corresponding to the second batten on the reverse). Underdrawing is visible on the kneeling Magus’s robe. Under ultraviolet light, retouching fluoresces over the faces of the two men in the window, over some lines on Joseph’s robe, over an area on the kneeling Magus’s sword, and over the aforementioned central join and crack at right. The Virgin and Christ also fluoresce faintly, suggesting a possible earlier campaign of restoration. Many areas, such as the standing Magus, appear to be very well preserved, and with conservation to stabilize and retouch the losses at upper left, and a sensitive cleaning, this painting would likely be much improved.