Vicente Lopez y Portaña

By descent from the sitter.

see preceding lot

The canvas has been relined. It is sagging along the left hand edge but is at the same time quite brittle. There is a hole in the canvas of approximately 4cm2 between the nose and mouth of the sitter, as visible in the catalogue illustration. There are two very small paint losses visible on the right hand side of the sitter's headdress, and there is a small vertical split in the canvas, approximately 4 cm. long, in the sky to the right of her face. A horizontal line is visible between the sitter's left ear and the right hand margin of the painting, which may be an old canvas join. Otherwise, the signed paint surface is secure and in good condition, with much of the detail of the sitter's hair and dress remaining well-defined. The paint surface is under a yellowed varnish. Some areas of varnish discolouration are particularly noticeable in the skin of the sitter and just to the right of her face in the sky. Inspection under UV light is largely impeded by the thick layer of varnish, but does indicate some scattered retouchings to the background of the portrait and the sitter's dress. The sitter's face, décolleté and arms seem to remain largely untouched. Offered in an ornate gilt wood and plaster frame in good 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."

The sitter was the daughter and eldest child of Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Maria Isabella of Spain, and sister of the Duchesse de Berry. She married her maternal uncle the Infante Don Francisco de Paula of Bourbon in 1819, and they had eleven children.

José Luis Díez lists two further autograph versions of this portrait. The first is dated to 1819 by Díez and resides in the collection of the Museo Lázaro Galdiano in Madrid. The second, unsigned replica, dated 1820 by the author, is in a Private Collection in Cagliari (see J.L. Díez, Vincente López (1772-1850) Il catálogo razonado, Volumen II, Madrid 1999, pp. 105, nos. P-413 and P-414, reproduced plate 156).

We are grateful to Dr. José Luis Díez for endorsing the attribution to Vicente López on the basis of photographs.