French School, 19th Century

The panel is uncradled, slightly convex, but without any signs of splitting. The paint surface is fine, details like the small dustings of cloud moving through the sky are freely painted and the impasto is intact. There is some thinning of paint by the animals, but details of the horese's tail and bridle, the matted coat of the sheep etc. are all still highly expressive and enjoyable. There is somet hinning in the bron pigemnts, which is very common in paintings of this age. Fortunately in this case the effect is not drastic, as the browns represent muddy ground, whic require less definition. There is a wonderful expanse of sky. Inspection under UV light reveals some old infilling of craquelure, some spot retouchings in the dark under the cloud, in the marshy swamp, along the upper edge of the sky, and in teh lweor left where the wood grain is slightly uneven. This lot is offered in a frame painted gold with subtle decorative mouldings, worn but structurally sound.
"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."