NICOLAES MAES | Portrait of a boy in red, with a feathered headpiece, a bow and arrow, and a dog nearby

Anonymous sale, Lyon, Anaf & Associé, 15 June 2003, lot 149 (as studio of Nicolaes Maes). 

The canvas is lined. The painting is in stable condition, and the image reads strongly beneath a slightly yellowed varnish. There is one minuscule loss near the top of the right edge, possibly due to old frame abrasion, and there seem to be a few small spots of old restoration in the figure's upraised arm and one in his lower costume, though these are in no way distracting. Inspection under UV reveals a thick varnish that is slightly difficult to read through. Some more recent restoration is visible near the lower right edge, in particular one thin horizontal line. A few scattered pin-dots of recent restoration can be seen in the composition, such as a few small spots in the shadows of his costume, in the billowing fabric at left, and only a few very thin strokes and spots near the edges. The painting may benefit from a freshening of the varnish, but can otherwise hang in its current state. Offered in an elaborately carved giltwood frame.
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.

We are grateful to Dr. León Krempel for endorsing the attribution to Nicolaes Maes on the basis of images and for suggesting a date of about 1677.