Roman School, early 17th Century

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work on canvas has what appears to be a very old lining, and the stretcher may be original. The cracking is quite raised and the surface is quite textured, which can probably be improved. The painting is probably slightly dirty. It has been retouched. The focus of the retouches is a three pronged tear centered in the temple of the face. One line of the tear extends along the hairline above, one extends down the cheekbone, and one runs toward the left side through the hair. Otherwise, there are retouches around the edges and in isolated spots, mainly in the hair, with a couple of other of dots elsewhere. Despite the break in the canvas, the condition is very good, and the quality and condition of the ruff and the face are impressive.
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