Jan Both

Lancastre Pedro de Freitas, Portugal;
Thence by descent until purchased by the present owner.

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 has been restored and should be hung in its current condition. The oak panel has an old cradle which is stabilizing the paint layer and maintaining a flat panel. The restoration is very accurate, and the picture looks well. Under ultraviolet light, one can see that the darker colors of the foreground are in very respectable condition, including the ruins on the left. However, the sky has received numerous retouches throughout, with a particular concentration in the blue towards the top of the painting. There is an original panel join running vertically through the center which has also been restored.
"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."

We are grateful to Frits Duparc for confirming that this is Jan Both's prime version of this well known composition, following first-hand inspection of the painting. Another version of slightly smaller size (52.5 x 47 cm) was formerly in the Cook Collection at Doughty House, Richmond (exhibited The Hague, Mauritshuis, A Collector's Choice, 1982, no. 16).