John Closterman

With Kentshire Galleries, New York.

Oil on canvas. The canvas has an old lining. There is a stable web of craquelure across the surface that has been flattened in this relining. In some areas of the image, where the craquelure is more pronounced, there is discoloration inpainting visible to the naked eye. This is especially evident in the boys faces and hands, where the retouching is lighter than the original pigments. There is a thinness to the sky. Under UV light, the varnish fluoresces Green and obscures the majority of the canvas. There are small areas of inpaint over this varnish, namely along the edges to address frame abrasion and in the sitters faces and hands as previously described.
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.

The names of the two boys in the present work come from an inscription on the reverse, which identifies this as a portrait of the only sons of Sir Samuel Dashwood (1642-1705) and Anne Smith (died 1721). Though DeBrett's lists the couple's only children as daughters, the two boys depicted here may be hitherto unrecorded.