Master of the Countess of Warwick

STRUCTURE On a stable, flat, three-piece panel with butterflies along the panel joins and two mounted batons at the top and bottom. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in a very good condition overall. The panels have parted slightly down the panel joins, most notably on the right hand join as visible in the catalogue illustration. There is a further very minor loss of paint in the upper right and a minor loss to the right of the sitter's elbow. There also appears to be some minor retouching to the panel joins at the top. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a thick discoloured varnish overall and confirms evidence of old retouching to the panel joins concentrated at the top and bottom. Elsewhere there is some minor retouching to the sitter's forehead, nose and hands and some scattered areas of retouching to her dress and sleeves. FRAME Held in a wood and plaster carved and gilded frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@sothebys.com.
"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."

The sitter was the daughter of John Nevill, 3rd Lord Latimer and his wife, Lady Lucy Somerset, daughter of the Earl of Worcester. In 1564 she married Thomas Cecil, son of William Cecil, later Lord Burghley. It was a cleverly arranged dynastic marriage linking the parvenue Cecils to the ancient noble family of Somerset, and her husband was created Earl of Essex in 1605. Lady Exeter died in 1609 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.