Pieter de Bloot

Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 5 July 1989, lot 188 (as Attributed to Pieter de Bloot);
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 17 January 1992, lot 190 (as by Pieter de Bloot);
Where purchased by the present owner.

The panel is in good, stable condition and is made up of one horizontal board, beveled on all four edges. There is a small baton on the reverse in the upper right corner, attending to a fine horizontal crack running 1/4 in. parallel to the upper edge and faintly visible in raking light on the face of the panel. There are some very minor paint losses to the crack at the left and at the right sides and a further minor loss of approximately 1/8 by 1/4 in., in the lower left corner. Inspection under UV reveals small areas of repaint in the upper right corner and along the left edge and retouching to the aforementioned crack. There is scattered, minor retouching in the sky and thatch at right and fine retouching to the horizontal craquelure lines in the background surrounding the figures. the figures themselves however appear untouched. While the very minor losses could perhaps be retouched, the painting is otherwise ready to hang as is. Offered in a black carved wood frame.
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.