Antonio de Bellis

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 12 January 1996, lot 109;
There purchased by Joseph Tanenbaum, Toronto;
By whom anonymously sold ("Property of a Private Collector"), New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 1999, lot 408, for $123,500;
There purchased by the present owner.

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 painting looks very well and the conservation is still effective. The canvas has a glue lining. Although there is a milky quality to the varnish in the darker colors, most, if not all, of the retouches are visible under ultraviolet light. There is a circular restoration of about 3 by 3 inches in the background on the upper right in the cloak being held around Jesus, which may correspond to an additional piece of canvas. The restorations are mostly isolated within the two figures and address paint losses, the most notable of which are in the left side of Christ's face in his cheekbone, nostril and forehead above the eye. The other damage of note is in the shoulder and bicep on the right and in the center of his chest. There are also smaller retouches to the figure in the upper left. The picture reads very well despite the restorations and should be hung in its current state.
"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."

Antonio de Bellis worked for the entirety of his short career in Naples. He was much influenced by Bernardo Cavallino who, like him, died in the notorious plague of 1656. When last sold (see Provenance), Nicola Spinosa supported the attribution to de Bellis.