Attributed to Nicolaes Maes

Probably The Reverend William Stephenson Preston, Warcop Hall, Cumbria from at least the mid 19th Century;
Probably by descent to his brother, The Reverend Charles Moyes Preston, Warcop Hall;
Probably by descent to his daughter, Beatrice Preston later Mrs. James Anstey Wild (d. 1945) of Warcop Hall;
The Property of St. Columba's Church, Warcop by 1937.

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, 1959 - 2011 (on loan from St. Columba's Church).

The canvas has an old relining which is a little rigid but still sound. The picture is now dirty and both the old varnish layer and the old retouchings have visibly discoloured. There are a number of large and crudely repaired damages. The largest of these include a horizontal damage at the join of the cross (12cm), between the 2 hands (10cm), a large jagged tear running from the left side of the head across the face to the top of the cross (16 x 41cm), an L shaped repair to the background on the left (9 x 20cm), 2 vertical 10cm repairs at the join of the cross and in the upper section of the cross. There are, in addition to these, numerous smaller damages and areas of older repair, for example, to the fur cuffs. Some darker passages (such as those on the saints cloak) do not fluoresce under UV light but older repair in these and other areas should not be discounted. This lot is offered in a later plain gilt wood frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This painting is almost certainly by the same hand as a painting in the Gemäldegalerie in Kassel depicting the Apostle St. Thomas that León Krempel includes as 'Authentische' in his catalogue on Nicolaes Maes.¹ Dr. Krempel has tentatively endorsed the attribution for the present work to Maes, comparing it to the Kassel St. Thomas, itself an early work by Maes dated 1656.

1. L. Krempel, Nicolaes Maes, Petersberg 2000, pp. 283-4, cat. no. A15, reproduced fig. 31.