Lot 132
  • 132

Bernardo di Stefano Rosselli

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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Description

  • Bernardo di Stefano Rosselli
  • Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, in an architectural setting, an extensive mountainous landscape beyond
  • tempera on panel, in an engaged frame, with an arched top

Condition

The following condition report has been provided by Karen Thomas of Thomas Art Conservation LLC., 336 West 37th Street, Suite 830, New York, NY 10018, 212-564-4024, info@thomasartconservation.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Layers of discolored varnish and dirt subdue the saturation of the colors in this picture. General wear to the paint layers is counterbalanced to some degree by the artist's emphasis on contours, which aids in the overall cohesive look of the picture. Although retouching is difficult to clearly discern beneath the strongly fluorescing natural resin varnish, strengthening appears to exist in the halos and in the Madonna's garments, including toning to visually suppress wide-aperture drying cracks in the blue mantle. Close examination suggests further retouching has been employed to address scattered abrasion and losses. The darkness of the strongly discolored varnish is intensified by dirt embedded in small losses and cracks. Grain-oriented cracks have developed: on the upper left where the painted surface meets the frame; from the bottom, center, extending approximately a third of the way up the panel; and from the bottom, right of center, below the Madonna's proper left knee. While cleaning the picture would brighten the appearance considerably, wear would become more evident, requiring restoration.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Bernardo di Stefano Rosselli formed his career in the workshop of Neri di Bicci and his paintings bear the influence, not only of his Florentine master, but also of Filippo Lippi and Jacopo del Sellaio.  As in the present composition, the artist typically places the Madonna and Child in a landscape, often with an architectural device at right.  This painting is based on the same model as that sold in Paris, Gros & Delettrez in 1997, though with variations the landscape beyond.1

We are grateful to Nicoletta Pons for endorsing the attribution on the basis of photographs.

1.  Anonymous sale, Paris, Gros & Delettrez, 15 December 1997, lot 68.