Vasily Ivanovich Shukhaev

This large painting is un-lined and well stretched on a new stretcher. The soft canvas is in healthy condition, despite it being un-lined. The paint layer is in surprisingly good condition given the delicate nature of the pigment which is very dry and un-varnished. This kind of picture is prone to paint loss because of possible water damage or the rolling of the linen in order to facilitate shipping, yet there appear to be no retouches visible and it seems quite likely that broad restorations do not exist. Whether or not there is the odd stroke of retouching that we are unable to identify either with the naked eye or under ultraviolet light, we are unable to tell. However, it seems that any small losses that may have occurred, for instance in the pink singlet of the boxer, have not been retouched and any slight stains or marks in the background similarly remain visible and do not appear to have received retouches. Cleaning the paint layer is not advised. There is a dark vertical mark above the figure's head which could be reduced slightly with retouching, but no retouches of any significance are required. The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
"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."