Philip Andreevich Maliavin

Sotheby's London, The Russian Sale, 18 November 1999, lot 190

Prague, Souborná výstava Filipa Maljavina v Praze, Na Příkopě, October-December 1933, room III, no.21

Exhibition catalogue Seznam děl souborné výstavy Filipa Maljavina v Praze, Na Příkopě, Prague, 1933, p.23, no.21 listed as Vyprávěč; no.9 illustrated

Structural Condition The canvas is unlined and is securely attached to the artist's original, keyed wooden stretcher. This is providing an even and stable structural support. There is a small vertical repaired tear in the upper right quadrant as viewed from the reverse. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. There are two areas of raised craquelure within the black pigments of the background in the upper left and right quadrants of the composition. These are stable. There are several areas of drying craquelure including within the red brown pigments to the left of the figure's wrist, and within the green pigments in the lower right quadrant of the composition. These are entirely stable and are attributable to the natural drying processes of the artist's materials. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows scattered retouchings, including: 1) a large area of retouching corresponding to the raised craquelure pattern in the upper left quadrant of the composition, and some further retouchings within the background in the upper right quadrant, 2) a few retouchings within the figure's hand, including a line of retouching corresponding the repair visible on the reverse, 3) several small retouchings on the figure's face, including on his eyes and mouth, and some retouchings above the head, and 4) three retouchings below the figure's elbow and two further retouchings to the left of his arm. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in good and stable condition.
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