Ben Marshall

Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair (purchased for one of her estates in Scotland)
Newhouse Gallery, New York (no. 11448)
Acquired from the above

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has not been properly restored for some time. The canvas has an old glue lining and although the paint layer is more or less stable, the cracking is quite raised. Marshall's technique in this case is to be quite sketchy, for instance in the barn on the left, and this sketchiness extends to the foreground and to a lesser degree to the trees. The sky is more finished but the paint layer has cracked and has received retouches addressing this cracking. The retouches are neither well matched nor economical and there would be great advantage to cleaning the painting and retouching more precisely. There are very few retouches in the horse itself, most of which are unlikely to be necessary. Beneath the horse's rib cadge there is restoration which may address a structural damage and again in the darker colors of the foreground there are isolated retouches which would indicate some loss. Given the broad technique and the period, combined with the sloppy restoration and the weak lining, this picture will improve greatly with correct restoration and the condition will be viewed as very respectable as a result. At present there is a small fleck of paint or plaster which has arrived on the surface in front of the horse's head which could easily be removed.
"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."