John Astley

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint except for visible stretcher bar marks at the top and bottom. There is also an uneven craquelure, a discoloured varnish overall and surface dirt visible in the lower right hand quadrant. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals evidence of previous campaigns of retouching, most recently to the canvas edge centre right. Examination also confirms the opacity of the varnish which makes further inspection very difficult. FRAME Held in a gilt wood and plaster frame (damaged lower right). To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@sothebys.com.
"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."