Jacopo Cestaro

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's East, November 25, 1998, lot 28.

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 painting has been quite recently restored and could be hung as is. The canvas has been lined and the paint layer is stable. Retouches are visible under ultraviolet light addressing a few isolated losses to the right and left of the head, in the book, in the knee and waist of the figure and in the lower left and lower right corners. These restorations have been well-carried out. There is a fair amount of thinness to the unfinished areas of paint in all four corners and some weakening to the paint layer in the figure itself, but this is not unattractive or the result of harsh cleaning.
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.

The present work would appear to be a study for an allegorical figure of Justice, most probably for a pendentive in a large scale decorative scheme.  The facial type and handling of shading are typical of the artist (see for example the Cleopatra formerly in a private collection, N. Spinosa, Pittura napoletana del Settecento dal Rococò al Classicismo, Naples 1987, p, 182).