Lot 21
  • 21

Follower of Guido Reni

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description

  • Hercules vanquishing the hydra
  • oil on canvas

Provenance

Private collection, California;
From whom acquired by the present owner.

Condition

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 work is made of three pieces of canvas joined vertically. The joins are quite visible. The old lining is not properly holding on to the paint layer and there are “bubbles” in the existing lining, which is not old but is certainly not effective. The paint layer does not appear to have received many retouches during this recent lining. Therefore, what one sees may well be a fairly close approximation of the original condition. Despite the few rather listless retouches in the left thigh and a few other places, this is a painting that should be reappraised by a restorer with a view to changing the lining, properly cleaning the painting and retouching where necessary. The work is in perfectly respectable condition although it is not restored effectively in any area.
"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."

Catalogue Note

This painting repeats a work by Guido Reni completed in 1620, now in the collection of the Musée du Louvre.  Reni's painting was part of a series of four large canvases depicting the Feats of Hercules that were painted for the Duke of Mantua between 1617-1621.  The series was sold by Duke Vincenzo II to King Charles I of England and acquired by the collector Everard Jabach (1618-1695) at the auctions of the King's collection following his execution in 1649.  From Jabach, the series was eventually acquired for the French Royal Collection.