Lot 157
  • 157

Lombard School, 17th Century

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
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Description

  • Still life with a bouquet of flowers in an urn, together with a basket of fruit, various fish, a cat and a copper pan;Still life with a bouquet of flowers in an urn, together with a basket of fruit, a plate of sweetmeats, an array of vegetables including asparagus and artichokes, and bowls of olives and fraises-de-bois, a papillon lapdog in the foreground
  • a pair, both oil on canvas, in fine gilt Italian cassetta frames

Provenance

Bernard Hippolyte Marie d'Harcourt (1821-1912) and Elisabeth Marie Casimire de Guignard de Saint Priest (1832-1900), Château de Melz sur Seine;
Alexandre Auguste Catoire de Bioncourt (1863-1913) and Gilonne Henriette Marie d'Harcourt (1867-1952), Château de Melz sur Seine;
Gerard Auguste Laurent Sixte Francois de Loriol (1904-1973) and Alexandra Wassiljewa Catoire de Bioncourt (1900-1956), Château d'Allaman, Switzerland;
Thence by descent.

Condition

The paintings are cooler in tone but brighter in colour than the catalogue suggests. The canvases have modern re-linings which have not overly flattened the paint surface. To the naked eye the paintings appear clean and secure, under a thick, glossy varnish. Stretcher marks are visible approx. 10 cm from the frame edge on each side. Inspection of the painting including the small dog, under UV light, reveals scattered re-touchings, some of which are discoloured; e.g. in the area of paint loss in the lower right corner of the canvas, near the artichoke and also in the darker back ground areas where some abrasion has occurred; e.g. in the drapery under the ledge on which the sweet meats are painted. Fuller re-touchings and in-filled losses can be found along with scattered re-touchings in the background. In large passages the paint surface appears un-touched and the details of the still life elements are well preserved. Under UV light the painting illustrated at the top of the catalogue page is well represented in its printed image. There are paint losses in the upper right of the canvas and is in similar condition to its pair, with both older and more recent re-touchings. Both canvases seem to be in good and stable condition for paintings of this size, and the vibrancy of colour seems to have remained unchanged. The pair are offered in fine guilt Italian cassetta frames in fair condition.
"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."