Johann Heiss

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 work has probably been restored fairly recently and could be hung in its current condition. This large canvas appears to be unlined, which is certainly remarkable. It may have been lined previously, and the reverse has been treated. There are a few tiny reinforcements on the reverse attending to some minor losses, but the condition of the work in general is marvelous. For the paint layer to be so well preserved is highly unusual for a painting of this scale and period. The only concentration of retouching can be found in the blue sky in the upper right and in one repair in the head of the standing female figure beneath the balcony on the left side.
"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."

This painting is accompanied by an expertise from Dr. Peter Königfeld in which he describes it as one of the best works of the artist’s late phase.  Heiss painted the subject of the Continence of Scipio on two other occasions:  a version dated 1679, now in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Braunschweig, and another version, also considered to be a late work, that was on the art market in Vienna in 1941.¹

The episode depicted details a legendary act of clemency by the Roman general Scipio during the Second Punic War.  Having captured the Spanish city of New Carthage, Scipio was presented with a beautiful maiden who had been taken prisoner.  Upon learning that the young woman was betrothed, he summoned her fiancé and returned her to him unharmed and untouched.  Here the young man is shown kneeling before Scipio as he reunites the couple.

1.  See P. Königfeld, Johann Heiss 1640-1704, Munich 2001, cat. nos. C5 and C22.