Circle of Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez

John Skippe (1742-1812) Upper Hall, Ledbury by 1793;
Bequeathed to his sister Penelope Skippe who married James Martin of Overbury Court in 1774;
Thence by direct descent to Waldyve Martin;
Thence by descent to Edward Holland Martin.

Grafton Galleries, London, Exhibition of Spanish Old Masters, October 1913 - January 1914, no. 39 (as Velázquez);
Prado, Madrid, Velázquez y lo Velazqueño, 10 December 1960 - 23 February 1961, no. 36.

Ledbury Inventory 1793, no. 21 (as Velázquez);
Overbury Court Inventory, 1831, no. 32 (as Velázquez);
A. Beruete y Moret, Review, Revue de l'Art ancien et moderne, January 1914 (as "a good and early copy");
A.L. Mayer, Velázquez. A Catalogue Raisonné of the Pictures and Drawings, London 1936, p. 26, no. 116 (as a studio variant of the Berlin picture);
B. de Pantorba, La vida y la obra de Velázquez: Estudio biográfico y crítico, Madrid 1955, p. 72, under no. 15, (as an old copy);
Velázquez y lo Velazqueño, exhibition catalogue, Madrid 1961, under no. 36;
J. Lopez-Rey, Velázquez. A Catalogue Raisonné of his Oeuvre, London 1963, p. 160, no. 111 (as a copy).

The painting appears less yellow in colour and cooler in tone than the catalogue illustration. The unframed canvas has a good relining and is structurally sound. The paint surface is secure and dirty but along the left upper and right edges frame abrasion has been extensively retouched and possibly extended by a few centimetres. The paint surface has been retouched quite extensively in the background. The darker brown tones for example, the lower section of the painting have become sunken and have subsequently been retouched. The face of the child has suffered some losses and subsequent retouching. Further retouchings under UV light can be made out quite extensively overall.
"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."

A high quality period copy after the original in the Staatliche Museum, Berlin (see P.M. Bardi, L'Opera Completa di Velázquez, Milan 1969, p. 87, no. 3).