Sebastian Horsley

Acquired directly from the Artist by The Ivy Restaurant, 2009

Central panel: Oil on canvas. Not viewed out of the frame. The canvas appears sound. There appear to be some minor losses to the tips of the raised impasto. The painted surface appears uneven in places, and on very close inspection, there are some areas of reticulation, most apparent in the more impasto areas of paint, as well as some reticulation, craquelure, cupping and possible loss in the centres of some of the sunflowers. There is some studio detritus and surface dirt, but subject to the above, the work appears to be in very good overall condition. Ultraviolet light reveals no obvious signs of fluorescence or retouching. The work is framed and glazed, float-mounted in a gilt wooden frame. Right panel: Oil on canvas. Not viewed out of the frame. The canvas appears sound. There appear to be some minor losses to the tips of the raised impasto. On extremely close inspection, there are some areas of very minor reticulation, most apparent in the more impasto areas of paint, and the surface of the paint also seems uneven in some areas. There appear to be several light scratches in the lower left quadrant. There is some studio detritus and surface dirt, but subject to the above, the work appears to be in very good overall condition. Ultraviolet light reveals no obvious signs of fluorescence or retouching. The work is framed and glazed, float-mounted in a gilt wooden frame. Left panel: Oil on canvas. Not viewed out of the frame. The canvas appears sound. There appear to be some minor losses to the tips of the raised impasto. There are some areas of very minor reticulation, most apparent in the more impasto areas of paint, and the surface of the paint also seems uneven in some areas. There is some studio detritus and surface dirt, but subject to the above, the work appears to be in very good overall condition. Ultraviolet light reveals no obvious signs of fluorescence or retouching. The work is framed and glazed, float-mounted in a gilt wooden frame. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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."

The present lot was bought directly from the artist when it was decided to fill the private room at The Ivy with modern art in 2009. Horsley was a huge fan of The Ivy, for which he used to dress up specially, often arriving for lunch in an enormous top hat, outrageous shoes with huge heels, bespoke velvet suits in bright colours and very large neckties.