Follower of Andrea del Sarto

A.G. Baldini;
Count Ivan N. Podgoursky (acquired from the above in November 1939);
Thence by descent.

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 large cradled panel has not received any restoration for a long time. While the paint layer appears to be period, the condition of this paint is very uneven. There are half a dozen vertical cracks or joins to the panel. There is a fairly significant uneven knot or wooden addition to the panel immediately to the left of the waist of Christ. There is instability to the paint layer, particularly in the upper background. The work is unevenly cleaned, revealing noticeably chronic paint loss and abrasion. The conservation would certainly be a long term effort and require some very careful retouching, but the quality and draftsmanship throughout the picture seems to be of a very high standard.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."