Emperor Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia and Apostolic King of Hungary

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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CONDITION REPORT WAS PREPARED BY HAMISH DEWAR, AN
INDEPENDENT PAINTINGS CONSERVATOR UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Structural condition
The canvas is unlined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. The canvas is
rather slack and would benefit from the tightening of the stretcher-keys.
There are some fine lines of entirely stable drying craquelure which are not visually distracting
and are consistent with a painting of this age. It is obviously most encouraging to find the
canvas in its original unlined state and the overall structural condition is very good.
There are, almost inevitably for an unlined painting of this age, slightly raised but stable
stretcher-bar lines.
Paint surface
The paint surface is also secure. The varnish layers are discoloured and there are a few small
scattered surface deposits, and the painting would undoubtedly respond very well to cleaning
and revarnishing.
There is some minor frame rubbing on the framing edges and evidence of pin holes on the
lower horizontal framing edge.
Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms how discoloured and opaque the varnish layers have
become and how well the painting should respond to cleaning. Ultraviolet light also highlights
numerous surface deposits which would be removed during the cleaning process. The only
possible retouchings I could identify under ultraviolet light are around the framing edges.
Summary
The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and original condition and has the
potential to be transformed by cleaning and revarnishing.