Dordrecht School, 17th Century

The actual painting is a lot darker and deeper in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The panel consists of 3 planks, joined horizontally, and has been reinforced with 2 vertical strips of wood. The joins have been reinforced with 2 battons each. The panel is lightly bevelled on all but the lower sides. The central plank has cracked right through the middle and another unstable horizontal crack of approx. 40 cm. is running through the central plank from the right edge. The panel requires attention. There is a tendency towards flaking along both cracks. The joins and cracks have been retouched. Discoloured retouchings can be observed in the dog, in the draperies of the angel, in the foliage centre background, in the background centre right. The paint surface is covered with a glossy and dirty layer of varnish. Inspection under Ultra-Violet light confirms the aforementioned retouchings and reveals additional crude retouchings in the foliage upper centre, and the background upper right, and in the fish and draperies of the figure on the right. Offered in a later plain wood frame, in good condition. (MW)
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