John Piper

Sale, Sotheby's, London,  23rd November 1994, lot 49

The canvas is sound and original. The board which the canvas has been laid on is very slightly bowed. There are some slight abrasions about all four edges with minor spots of resultant paint loss - all of which appears to correspond with old frame rubbing. In the centre of the upper half of the work, there is a vertical line of craquelure, with a few flecks of paint loss and lifting paint. There is a horizontal line of craquelure in the lower left quadrant with a small fleck of paint loss. There is an additional fleck near the lower central edge in the lower left quadrant. There are a few tiny flecks of paint loss in the upper right quadrant with some tiny spots of lifting paint. The surface appears to be slightly dirty with a few tiny specks of staining, predominantly in the upper left quadrant. The work may benefit well from a light clean and is otherwise in good overall condition. Under ultraviolet light there are some areas which fluoresce but these correspond with the aforementioned media marks, frame paint, varnish and pigments; otherwise there appear to be no signs of retouching. Unframed. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 5381 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in 1971.