Eugène Verboeckhoven and Louis Verwée

I.M. Smith, London
Private Collection, Lahinch, Co. Clare, Ireland (by the 1980s)
Thence by descent to the father of the present owner

The following condition report has been prepared by Hamish Dewar Ltd, 13 & 14 Mason's Yard, London SW1Y 6BU: UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE Structural Condition The canvas is unlined and is securely attached to what would certainly appear to be its original keyed, wooden stretcher. This is providing an even and stable structural support. There is a canvas patch visible in the upper left quadrant as viewed from the reverse. There are also two small repairs visble close to the lower horizontal stretcher-bar as viewed from the reverse . Paint surface The paint surface has an uneven, heavily discoloured varnish layer and the painting would undoubtedly respond well to cleaning. There is a small spot of gold paint to the right of the trees in the centre of the composition and some further accretions within the sky. There is a raised pattern of craquelure visible throughout the composition and stretcher-bar lines corresponding to each of the five stretcher members. These are entirely stable. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms the heavily discoloured varnish layers. Inspection under ultraviolet light also shows scattered areas of retouching including: 1. an area within the upper right quadrant of the sky which corresponds to a patch visible on the reverse of the canvas, 2. an area below the trunk of the large tree within the lower left quadrant of the composition which corresponds to a repair visible on the reverse of the canvas, 3. a small retouching to the dog in the lower centre of the composition which corresponds to a small repair visible on the reverse of the canvas, and 4. several small spots of retouching in the lower left corner of the composition within the water. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in reasonably good and stable condition and would benefit from cleaning, restoration and revarnishing.
"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."