Milanese School, 17th Century

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The canvas is unlined and there is a loss tension resulting in deformation and slight raised stretcher marks. The paint is raised, cupped and insecure, particularly upper left. There is a small restored loss to the hem of the red dress. Beneath a very discoloured and degraded varnish can be seen further minor loss and scuffs to the paint layer otherwise, the painting is in original untouched condition. Offered in a period plain wood frame with some damages."
"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."

This large unlined canvas was presumably painted in Milan or its environs towards the middle of the 17^th century by an artist working in the wake of Daniele Crespi (1597-1630) and Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli, called Il Morazzone (1573-1626). We are grateful to Dott. Francesco Frangi for proposing an attribution to Innocenzo Torriani (1648-1700) and for comparing the present work in particular to his Scenes from the life of St. Roch in Tegna, Santa Maria Assunta.¹ We are also grateful to Mrs. Nancy Ward Neilson for tentatively proposing an attribution to Giovanni Maria Arduino (1580-1647), an idea endorsed by Prof. Mario Marubbi of the Museo Civico, Cremona.

1. See L. Damiani Cabrini (ed.), Francesco e Innocenzo Torriani, exhibition catalogue, Mendrisio 2006, pp. 164-5.