PAUL WEBER | The Susquehanna Valley

Jane Marqusee Fine Arts, New York
Sold: Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, November 15, 2012, lot 73053
Acquired by the present owner at the above sale

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes, 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. The canvas has an old lining applied with wax. The cracking is beginning to be raised, and the varnish is extremely glossy and uneven, particularly through the center of the composition. The work would certainly respond to cleaning, but whether the work can be safely cleaned without changing the lining is an issue. Under ultraviolet light, one can see retouches in the dark hill on the far right which extend down into the trees in the center right. There is another retouch in the lower right corner, which does not interfere with the signature. This retouch may attend to a small break in the canvas. The original pigment reads unevenly under ultraviolet light through the trees, but none of this fluorescence corresponds to retouches. There is a minor restoration in the trees in the lower left. There is another group of restored losses in the trees on the far left on the top of the hill, which may correspond to a small break in the canvas. In the sky, there is a vertical line of restorations near the center of the top edge, which runs about 2 ½ inches. The thick varnish through the center does cause the paint layer to fluoresce quite strongly in places, but this does not indicate any old restorations. The condition is quite good overall, but it is recommended that the restoration be reconsidered.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.