Florentine School, 16th Century

The panel is flat and cradled, presumably to stabilise some old, vertical cracks, which are visible to the naked eye through discoloured retouchings; one of these runs the length of the panel, to the right of the sitter’s head, and the second runs the length of the panel through the left of the sitter’s face. There is also a degree of wear throughout the black of the sitter’s cap and coat, and the varnish appears a little uneven. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms these aforementioned retouchings along the cracks, and there are some further small patches of restoration: an area on the lower left margin, measuring approx. 2 x 1 in.; another larger patch in the lower right corner; scattered largely in the left side of the sitter’s face and in his collar; and scattered in the background.
"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."

This intriguing portrait dates from the middle of the century, when the Mannerist style had taken over all facets of Florentine art, including portraiture. On the basis of an image Dottor Carlo Falciani, to whom we are grateful, has tentatively associated the portrait with Maso da San Friano, one of the talented painters of Francesco de Medici's Studiolo, in Palazzo Vecchio. He specifically compares the nose structure to figures in Maso's Fall of Icarus in the Studiolo.