Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky

Acquired by the mother of the present owner in the United States in the 1970s

Structural Condition The canvas is lined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. This is providing an even and stable structural support. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. The are scattered areas of craquelure, including within the sky. These are stable and are not visually distracting. There are also small scattered areas of paint shrinkage, including within the sky and the hills in the centre right of the composition. These are also stable. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows very small scattered retouchings, including: 1) small intermittent spots and lines of retouching on the left and right framing edges, and a few further spots on the upper and lower edges, 2) a few very small spots of retouching within the upper right of the sky and a small spot on edge of the tree in the centre right, 3) very small spots and lines of retouching above the ox and cart in the lower right quadrant of the composition, and a few small spots on one of the ox's legs, and 4) a very small area of retouching within the trees just in from the centre of the right edge. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition.
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The present work is included in the numbered archive of the artist's work compiled by Gianni Caffiero and Ivan Samarine.