Head and shoulders of an old man seen in profile, bust-length

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. The panel, beveled on all four sides, is made up of two vertical boards with two vertical and two horizontal batons adhered to the reverse which keep it in plane. The upper horizontal baton is slightly loose. The panel join is visible on the face in raking light, as is a vertical crack running the length of the panel on a slight diagonal from the lower right edge to the upper right corner. Another smaller crack runs six inches from the lower right corner to the right edge. Both of these cracks have been restored and retouched. There is a horizontal surface scratch in the upper left corner and some scuffing to the upper right edge. The paint surface is clean beneath a clear varnish and has retained some of its impasto in the nose and decoration of the shoulder. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals older retouching beneath the varnish to the aforementioned restored cracks and some retouched minor losses in the top of the head and hair, as well as strengthening to the contours of the face. There is further strengthening to the decoration of the shoulder at right and the drapery lower left. There is more recent retouching and restoration attending to the upper end of the split in the upper right corner. The painting has been selectively cleaned at some point. The background is difficult to read under UV. The painting requires no further work and is ready to hang in its present state. Offered in a decoratively carved gilt wood frame with some losses.