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.
This three-piece oak panel is held under tension by vertical wooden supports along the reverse of the joins and remains stable. There is a very slight convex warp to the panel, with small restored vertical crack near the panel joins, particularly the upper right of approximately 13cm. The painting has a fresh appearance with an even surface gloss from recent re-varnishing. The paint has been applied in thin glazes. Natural ageing is evident in the increase in transparency of the thinnest glazes, with some surface abrasion. In raking light, restoration is visible in the highlights and lowlights of the flesh tones, which have abraded over time, as well as in the blacks and whites of the sitter’s costume and throughout the background, isolated restoration along the edges of the panel associated with frame wear, and recent restoratoin to a scratch near the centre left edge. However, the artist’s modelling technique remains appreciable. Ultraviolet examination reveals a layer of streaky obscuring varnish, through which recent restoration of the ruff, flesh tones and lowlights of the costume are discernible, as well as restoration to the darker passages of the background and along the panel joins.
Print Report