Alberto Carlieri

Acquired by the father of the present owner circa 1950;
Thence by descent.

The canvas is lined. The painting presents a beautiful image with the architectural details well preserved, like for example in the arches and marble. There is a minor spot lifting and two really small areas of paint loss on top of the second column. Under inspection of UV light there appears to be some small, finely applied retouches here and there on the foreground and structure. These include: scattered small spots on the background sky, a more concentrated area on the ground in the bottom right quadrant, and a few strokes in the shadows on the building. The lifting perhaps could be stabilised and a fresh varnish might improve its appearance, but otherwise the painting can hang in its present state. Offered in a gilded simple wood frame with some minor losses.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In this painting, Carlieri transplants the biblical story about the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon from ancient Jerusalem to an Italianate capriccio with classical architecture. We are grateful to David Marshall for endorsing the attribution on the basis of photographs.