Henri Gascars

With Acton Surgey, Ltd., London;
From whom acquired by the Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA, 4 November 1930;
Collection transfer to the Worcester Museum of Art, Worcester, MA, January 2014 (2014.143).

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 not been recently restored. The paint layer has become quite dry. Some cracking has developed which is giving rise to instability and weakness, particularly in the sky. There is also cracking in the water and in the activity in the harbor, but the condition is good here. The face and body of the figure seem to be very well preserved. It appears that water damage has blanched the paint layer in the curtain in the upper left and on the left side. There may be restorations here, and the extent of the damage is unknown. It is possible that the darker colors in this curtain above the head and to the immediate left of the figure are not original and have been added over the blanched paint layer. While the figure and a good deal of the sky and view to the right are very nicely preserved, the curtain and the background on the left are in questionable condition.
"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."

George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth (circa 1647-1691), was an English naval commander under both Charles II and James II.  He served in the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars and was elevated as Baron Dartmouth in 1682.  In 1683 he was appointed admiral and was dispatched to Tangier with Samuel Pepys to evacuate and demolish the English colony there.  His last appointment was the command of the Channel Fleet that failed to prevent the invasion force of William II of Orange in 1688 and, thereby, the start of the Glorious Revolution.