- 45
Pier Francesco Mola
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 USD
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Description
- Pier Francesco Mola
- Flora and the infant Bacchus in a wooded landscape
- oil on canvas
- 18 x 15 1/2 inches
Provenance
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 8 December 1976, lot 45;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 15 April 1992, lot 47 (unsold);
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 12 January 1996, lot 106.
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 15 April 1992, lot 47 (unsold);
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 12 January 1996, lot 106.
Literature
F. Petrucci, Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666). Materia e colore nella pittura del '600, Rome 2012, p. 268, cat. no. B4, reproduced (as circa 1633- 1638).
Condition
The canvas appears to be unlined (or is possibly very thinly relined). The paint surface has been a bit pressed in some areas, such as the red drapery at the left side, and there are scattered areas of abrasion mostly in the background browns and in foliage. This is most noticeable in the bottom of the urn and in the landscape at right side. The foreground figures are well retained and overall the composition still reads well. Under UV light: there are small retouches and reinforcements in parts of the foliage; there is a small T-shaped retouch on the urn and another area of retouching in landscape lower right. Tiny scattered retouches in background at center of composition. The blue drapery of the female figure fluoresces, but this may be due to the varnish or to selective cleaning and does not appear to be retouched.
In a carved and gilt wood frame with small losses to the gilding.
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
At the time of the 1992 and 1996 sales (see Provenance) this painting was sold with a photocopy of a certificate from Dr. Richard Cooke, dated 1 November 1991, dating this work to circa 1651-52. In his monograph on the artist, Dott. Francesco Petrucci (see Literature) has dated it to an earlier period of Mola's career, circa 1633-38.