John Piper C.H.

Marlborough Fine Art, London, where acquired by Dr Jean Shanks, by whom gifted to the present owner

London, Marlborough Fine Art, cat. no.53 (details untraced).

The sheet appears sound. The sheet is attached to the mount with tape along the upper horizontal edge. There are several pinholes in both of the upper corners, thought to be inkeeping with the artist's working method. There is some craquelure to the more impasto areas of paint, which appears to be lifting slightly in one or two spots, primarily apparent to the black pigment in the upper and lower right quadrants, and the dark blue pigment in the lower right quadrant. In one or two spots, this craquelure has resulted in some very small losses. The impasto tips of areas of the dark blue pigment seem to have discoloured slightly. Subject to the above, the work appears to be in good overall condition. The work is window-mounted and presented in a painted wooden frame, held under glass. 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."