Circle of Girolamo Muziano

The varnish has blanched making the picture greyer in tonality than the catalogue illustration would suggest. It is painted in a single bowed panel with old woodworm damage in evidence on the reverse. The paint surface is in fair condition. There are scattered minor paint losses in the tree branches upper right, the foliage centre right and to the ground lower centre. There is also a minor restored paint loss and associated retouching in the upper left hand corner. There is a further minor knock visible in the sky above the hill. There are scattered minor surface scratches in the upper centre and lower right and restoration visible to an old restored split down the grain in the upper left running through the rock overhang. There is also surface sirt overall and, as mentioned, a blanched varnish which hinders examination under ultraviolet save for evidence of some very minor retouching to the red cloak and in the upper left as already mentioned. Offered in a black painted and red velvet frame in good overall 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."

The figure of the saint is based on Muziano's original from 1570-72 in the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna, inv. no. 15.¹ A preparatory sketch is in the Cabinet des Dessins in the Louvre and was retouched by Rubens, who later re-employed the figure for his Daniel in the Lion's Den in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Muziano's design was engraved in reverse by several artists, among them Jan Sadeler and Cornelis Cort.


1. P. Tosini, Girolamo Muziano, Rome 2008, pp. 367-69, reproduced fig. 17, and in colour p. 241, fig. 224.