After Edwin Austin Abbey

Peter Nahum, London
Acquired from the above in 2002

Lined. Overall the work presents well. The surface is clean and bright and the colors remain vibrant. Faint vertical stretcher bar mark at left. A very few minor dots of loss. Minor frame abrasion scattered along the edges. Under UV: lines and small areas of inpainting (some to address possible repairs that are somewhat visible to the naked eye) and finer retouches are widely scattered throughout.
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.

The present work is based on Edwin Austin Abbey’s composition, “King Lear," Act I, Scene I (fig. 1, 1898, Metropolitan Museum of Art). The central figure is Cordelia, the heroine of Shakespeare’s King Lear, who is depicted just after she is renounced by her father, which takes place in the first scene of the play. The king of France, to her left, kisses her hand. The Philadelphia-born Abbey settled in London, where he shared the contemporary fascination with Shakespearean, historical and medieval subjects.