Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, R.A.

Elizabeth Gilmer Packard;
Thence by bequest to the James Prendergast Library, New York.

O. Lefeuvre, Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg: 1740-1812, Paris 2012, p. 324, cat. no. 309, reproduced.

The oil on canvas is laid down on board. A decorative landscape reads well, though there is some discoloration visible to the naked eye. There are two holes on the upper edge at extremes of the canvas, but these are not visible when framed. Inspection under UV shows an area of retouching on the upper right corner, with a smaller spot of retouching at center right. Further reading might be impeded due to an old varnish, but there may be more retouches underneath. On the rock at bottom left there is a small spot that fluoresces as a result of a cleaning test. The painting is offered framed.
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Though the authorship of this painting is not disputed, it is inscribed with a signature on the lower left (fig. 1) that appears to have been a later addition as it is not consistent with the artist's. Underneath this inscription, black text is barely visible, which may have once been the artist's signature.