The Annunciation

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 ⅜ in. thick and is supported on the reverse with four horizontal battens, each approximately 2 in. thick. There is a wax seal affixed to the panel at upper left. The panel has split in two places: the first crack runs from the upper to the lower edge at approximately 7 ½ in. from the left edge; the second runs from the upper to the lower edge at approximately 4 ½ in. from the right edge. All three pieces of panel are flat and are held in place by the aforementioned battens. Approximately ¼ in. of the panel has been thinned along each edge on the reverse and a wooden batten has been affixed to each groove, which protrudes by approximately ¼ in. from the panel along all four sides and covers the panel edges. The battens along the upper and lower edge have snapped so that the edge of the original panel is exposed in the upper right corner and lower left corner. The varnish is somewhat cloudy, yellowed and dirty. The paint layer appears to be stable on the support. Under natural light, a fine, vertical craquelure is visible across most of the painting – with several associated pinhead-sized losses - and is perhaps most evident in the skin tones. Some faint scuffing due to frame contact is visible in places along the extreme edges of the panel and the panel has chipped in the lower left and right corners. A fine diagonal scratch runs approximately 1 ¼ through the chair at lower center and there is one associated pinhole-sized paint loss, and another associated, approximately ⅛ x ¼ in. paint loss. Some slightly discolored strengthening is visible along the panel edges. Under ultraviolet light, the varnish fluoresces unevenly. Two approximately ½ x ¾ in. areas of inpainting fluoresce in the cloud in the upper right quadrant; another approximately 1 x 2 in. area of inpainting fluoresces in the background immediately above the pointing finger of the Angel of the Annunciation. Inpainting fluoresces along the extreme edges of the panel and to either side of both vertical cracks. Further touches of strengthening fluoresce here and there in the background and in the figures. The picture would benefit from sensitive restoration to the cracked panel and may benefit from a sensitive cleaning and improvements to the current restorations.