After Hans Holbein the Younger

Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 22 March 2000, lot 47.

STRUCTURE The panel has been cradled, and is providing a flat support for the painting. PAINT SURFACE The painting is slightly lighter in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests and has a large area of paint loss in the background, upper left, as shown in the illustration. There is also paint loss along a panel join running horizontally through the upper section of the painting, and to scattered areas in the upper and centre right, again visible as seen in the illustration. Otherwise the picture appears to be in fairly good condition, with an old and discoloured varnish overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a few small areas of minor retouching, namely to the outline of the sitters' shoulders, but otherwise it appears to be largely untouched. FRAME Held in a painted wooden frame. AGE TEST An age test of the pigments, conducted by Catherine Hassall, concludes that the use of natural ultramarine means the picture cannot be any later than circa 1700. There is nothing to prevent it being sixteenth century. The use of the thin imprimatura, and the way that the drawing shows through the thinly painted flesh tones, are good clues that it was in fact painted at an early date. 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."

This picture is after a work in the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden dated 1528 which depicts Thomas Godsalve, a prosperous Norfolk landowner and registrar of the consistory court at Norwich, with his son John, who through his father's friendship with Thomas Cromwell, secured the posts of Clerk of the Signet and Clerk of the Mint.