John Cook

Captain James Quallett (1718-1779), of the East India Company;
Thence by descent to the present owner.

The catalogue illustration is representative. The painting is in good, country house condition, with no significant damage or loss of paint. There is a small scratch in the upper left, visible in the catalogue illustration, approximately 1 inch in length, with a very small chip of related paint loss. Next to this there is some old retouching which is beginning to lift and has a small crack running through it. There are a small number of further scattered old minor retouchings, visible under close inspection, as well as a small number of further very minor scratches and scuffs to the surface, predominantly in the lower section of the painting. The picture has an old relining, and a discoloured and dirty varnish overall. There are also a number of flecks of surface residue, which have been splashed on top of the varnish layer. Underneath the varnish the paint appears to be in very good condition, and it is likely that the picture would respond very well to a light clean. Examination under ultraviolet light does not reveal any recent restoration and the retouchings previously mentioned do not fluoresce, indicating that it is very old. The painting is held in a carved wooden frame, partly painted black. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@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."

A little-known artist, whose work is often confused with that of Peter Monamy, this painting is the only known work to be signed with the artist's full name, and adds further to our knowledge of him. He is best known for his scenes of the Mediterranean, usually off Alexandria, and a version of this painting, with minor differences, is in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, dated to circa 1720. The frequency with which he painted these subjects, and their quality, suggests that he spent a great deal of time in what were then little-known ports of the eastern Mediterranean, and he may, like other marine artists of his generation, have been a seaman.