Arthur Spooner

The London Hilton Art Gallery, London;
J S Maas Gallery, London;
Private collection   

STRUCTURE Original canvas. It undulates slightly in the upper corners which would be easily remedied with tightening of the stretcher keys. There is a small surface indentation near the centre of the left edge and another to the left of the signature on the lower edge. There is also a small protrusion along the left half of the lower edge. There are two repair patches to the reverse of the picture below each end of the horizontal stretcher, which are not evident from the front of the picture. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT UV light reveals a spot of retouching along the left side of the upper edge, a few small retouchings along the upper half of the left vertical edge and a further spot in the grass near the lower left corner. There is another area of retouching left of the signature, corresponding to the above mentioned indentation, and another in the lower right corner. There are presumably retouchings corresponding to the repair patches but these are difficult to see under UV light. FRAME Held in a gilt plaster frame. Please contact the department on 0207 293 5718 if you have any questions about the present work.
"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."