Giovanni Pietro Rizzi Pedrini called Giampetrino

Ethel Le Vane, Madrid, by March 1954.

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 been restored and should be hung in its current state. The panel is unreinforced except for two horizontal reinforcements across the top and bottom. The panel is flat, and the paint layer is cleaned and restored. Retouches are clearly visible under ultraviolet light throughout the faces of the two figures, and particularly in the neck of the Madonna and in the right forearm of Christ. The left hand of the Madonna has also received a fair amount of retouching. The red garment she is wearing has received numerous retouches in the left and right sleeves and in her torso. There are more isolated restorations within the remainder of the figure and her clothing. Retouches are not visible under ultraviolet light in the background, but one can see a few isolated losses that have been retouched on the right side. The left background seems to be in better condition.
"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 typical work by Giampietrino once belonged to Ethel Le Vane, the writer and dealer who was well acquainted both with Bernard Berenson, who kept an image of the work in his photo files (Villa I Tatti no. 122392), as well as J Paul Getty, whom she advised in his acquisitions. A bust of Ms La Vane is in the collection of the Getty Museum.

The attribution has been endorsed by Dottoressa Cristina Geddo, a copy of whose expertise accompanies the present lot.