John Michael Wright

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in very good condition. There are two very minor abrasions in the upper left measuirng approx. ½ cm. by ½ cm. There is also evidence of a small old horizontal repaired tear in the upper right measuring approx. 8 cm. Otherwise there is no apparent damage or loss of paint, however there appears to be a thick discoloured varnish overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the opacity of the varnish and reveals some scattered retouching throughout the background particularly in the upper left, centre right and to the lower curls of the sitter's hair and the edges of his cravat. FRAME Held in a red faux marbled wooden oval frame. 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."

We are grateful to David Taylor for confirming the attribution on the basis of photographs.