Lavinia Fontana

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 on copper has not been restored for a number of years. The frame is noticeably damaged but the copper panel on which the picture is painted is in very healthy condition, as is the paint layer. The picture is significantly dirty yet throughout the figure group, the table top and the still life in the lower center the condition is very encouraging. In the steps there are some old discolored restorations and similarly in the upper left and around the edges there are most likely a few cosmetic restorations addressing some of the kind of loss that is to be expected. There is very slight thinness to the paint layer here and there and some strengthening around the brass urns in the foreground. However, this picture will respond very well to cleaning and although fine and carefully executed restorations will be required, the condition is very good, given the period and the fact that copper is notoriously fickle. In this case the copper presents the picture well.
"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."

Lavinia Fontana was the first of a number of women artists in Bologna who achieved renown in Italy as well as internationally. She was trained as a painter by her father Prospero Fontana, himself one of the leading mannerist painters in their native city of Bologna. Though she is best known for her portraiture, for which she received major commissions, the present work is an important addition to the group of refined religous works which she executed throughout her career. Like her father, Fontana created large altarpieces as well as small, highly finished paintings for private devotion, of which the present work is a beautiful example. Another such work, also executed on copper, is the Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine with Saints Francis, Joseph and the Infant Baptist, sold in these rooms on January 24, 2002, lot 180.

The composition shown here depicts the marriage feast at Cana, a miracle story from the Gospel of John (2:1-11 ). Towards the end of a wedding feast in Cana, Galilee, it was discovered that the wine had run out. At that moment, Jesus commanded servants to fill jugs with water, which he then miraculously turned into wine. This is the first of seven miracles which are recorded in John.