John Armstrong, A.R.A.

Gifted by the Artist to Rosamund Silkin
Sale, Christie's London, 4th June 1999, lot 133 (as Classical Composition), where acquired by the present owner

London, Alex. Reid & Lefevre Ltd, John Armstrong, December 1938, cat. no.24.

Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong, The Paintings, Philip Wilson Publishers, London, 2009, cat. no.162, p.167.

Not examined out of the frame. The board appears sound. There is cracquelure visible across the paint surface, as well as the Artist's inherent scratches and marks. There is a resultant loss beneath the horses, and there is a further extremely tiny speck of loss to the right of the green pigment. There is a small scuff, with some resultant loss, just above the lower edge, near the horse's hooves. There is some surface dirt to the work, and some small specks of matter. Ultraviolet light reveals some fluorescence, which is thought to be in keeping with the Artist's materials, and is not indicative of retouching. The work is presented in a gilt frame. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

We are grateful to Jonathan Gibbs for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.