Manner of Luca di Tommè

Wadsworth collection, Avon, New York;
Moukhanoff collection, Avon, New York by whom sold with the estate to the present owner.

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. The image of St. Catherine has not been restored for a number of years and while the gilding is presumably not period, the condition of the figure itself seems to be much better. The panel is cracked in three or four places visibly. One crack runs vertically down the left side, another vertically through the neck of the figure and another on the right side. Old paint losses are visible in the lower portion of the panel and restorations have been added to these breaks. In the face of the saint there are retouches clearly visible in her cheek. It remains to be seen how the gilding feels if it were to be cleaned, as at the present it is an extremely rich and rather modern gold, yet this is a picture which requires restoration. The image of St. Lawrence was not restored at the same time and the condition seems to be considerably better. In this panel the gilding seems to be original and the condition of the paint layer is generally excellent, except for the very obvious losses in two large sections in the hands and waist of the figure, in his right sleeve and around the very visible cracks on both sides of the figure. On the one hand this picture has most likely never been touched in any significant way by a restorer, with the exception of a few spots in both shoulders and some other restorations in the lower left. On the other hand, this panel has some major damages which need to be restored, particularly structural work, to stabilize the panel and the paint layer.
"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."