William Henry Johnson

Jose Cuneo (acquired as a gift from the artist, circa 1927-1930)
C. Matallana, Uruguay
Private Collection, Montevideo, Uruguay (purchased from the above)

Condition Report as per Simon Parkes, Inc. (3/25/2014): This painting is essentially in perfect condition. It still remains stretched on its original stretcher. The tacking edges seem to be intact and unreinforced. The paint layer seems to have been lightly cleaned fairly recently and probably very lightly varnished. Although slight cracking to the paint layer is visible in the upper right in the sky, this is not an indication of any instability. There are no paint losses, and no retouches are visible to the naked eye or under ultraviolet light. The entire painting reads quite strongly under ultraviolet light. This is typical of paintings that have aged naturally and have remained in very fresh and undamaged condition, particularly if the y have never been heavily varnished. The painting should be hung in its current condition.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.