William Marlow

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in very good condition, with no apparent damage or loss of paint. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals retouching in the sky, centre right, and to a small area in the foliage, lower right. There is one further small area of retouching in the sky, in the centre of the picture, just above the tree line, to the right of the pyramid. There is also a vertical line of retouching down the left hand edge, and some very minor scattered retouching in the foreground. FRAME Held in a gilded English Baroque style frame.
"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."

Marlow's views of Rome are very rare, and the artist visited the city only briefly during his travels in Italy between 1765 and 1766. We are grateful to Michael Liversidge for confirming the attribution of the present painting, on the basis of photographs, and for dating the work to circa 1766.