South Italian School, 18th Century

The canvas is lined. The painting presents a decorative image beneath an old and discolored varnish. The painting has not been attended to in some time, and although it is pressed in some areas, and there are some scattered repairs, there are still some well preserved details, particularly in the parrot at center and in the rabbits at lower right. The old repairs are scattered throughout, with the most prominent in the background at upper left, in the mushrooms at left of center, and in the sky at upper right. There are some areas and spots of lifting to the paint layer (at center near the mushrooms, below the parrot at center, and along the lower edge), although overall the paint layer appears to be stable. There are some scattered losses here and there, particularly in the landscape at center beneath the parrot and in the foliage at right, both of which are visible in the catalogue image. Inspection under UV reveals retouching to the aforementioned repairs, including some additional thin lines of repair, and some scattered spots of retouching, many of which are visible to the naked eye, such as in the parrot at upper left. The painting would benefit from a sensitive restoration. Offered in a carved giltwood frame.
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.