Simon Vouet

Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, and installed by him in the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden, by 1754;
De-accessioned from the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden, in the 1920s, and certainly before 1927.

M. Oesterreich, Inventarium von der Koniglichen Bilder-Galerie zu Dresden, vol. I, Dresden 1754, no. 316 (as 'Schule des Caravaggio');
J.A. Riedel and C.F. Wenzel, Catalogue des Tableaux de la Galerie Electorale à Dresde, Dresden 1765, p. 230, no. 327 (as ' Maître Italien Inconnu');
J.A. Riedel and C.F. Wenzel, Verzeichnis der Gemälde in der Churfürstl. Gallerie in Dresden, Leipzig 1771, p. 202, no. 327 (as 'Unbekannten Italiäner');
Verzeichniss der Gemälde, welche in der churfürstl. Gallerie zu Dresden befindlich sind, Dresden 1801, p. 173, no. 327 (as 'Unbekannten Italiäner');
Catalogue explicatif des tableaux de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1817, p. 259, no. 306 (as 'Anonyme de l'école de Carrache');
F. Matthäi, Verzeichnis der Königlich Sächsischen Gemälde-Galerie zu Dresden, Dresden 1835, p. 56, no. 269 (as 'Unbekannt aus der Schule der Carracci');
Catalogue des Tableaux de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1846, p. 100, no. 848 (as 'Ecole des Carrache');
J. Hübner, Catalogue de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1862, p. 176, no. 462 (as 'Ecole des Carrache');
J. Hübner, Catalogue de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1868, p. 147, no. 462 (as 'Ecole des Carrache');
J. Hübner, Catalogue de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1872, p. 150, no. 462 (as 'Ecole des Carrache');
J. Hübner, Catalogue de la Galerie Royale de Dresde, Dresden 1880, p. 163, no. 530 (as 'Ecole des Carrache');
K. Woermann, Katalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden, Dresden 1887, p. 50, no. 312 (as 'Schule der Carracci');
K. Woermann, Katalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden, Dresden 1892, p. 134, no. 312 (as 'Schule der Carracci');
K. Woermann, Katalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden, Dresden 1902, p. 130, no. 312 (as 'Schule der Carracci');
K. Woermann, Katalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden, Dresden 1905, p. 129, no.312 (as 'Schule der Carracci');
H. Posse and K. Woermann, Catalogue of the pictures in the Royal Gallery at Dresden, Dresden 1912, p. 43, no. 312 (as ' School of the Carracci');
D. Jacquot, "Enjeux et bilan - provisoire - d'une exposition," in Simon Vouet en Italie, Rennes 2011, p. 261, and  p. 263, note 11, reproduced (as 'Simon Vouet').

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting has not been restored for many years. The canvas has a very old lining. The paint layer is stable, but the cracking has become slightly more apparent. The work is particularly dirty and in some areas (especially the background and in various parts of the beard) the varnish has become milky and opaque. There are darker areas in the background which are restorations on top of the milky old varnish and there may be other areas which have received a slight tone in order to suppress this "bloomed" varnish. However, there is no reason why cleaning will not reveal a healthy and fresh paint layer and we expect the bloomed varnish to be easily removed. Once the picture is cleaned it may be that the surface will benefit from a reexamination of the structural conservation but overall the condition is clearly outstanding.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

See note to previous lot.