WILLIAM MICHAEL HARNETT | Fruit and Asparagus

Jess Pavey, Birmingham, Michigan, by 1969
M. Knoedler & Co., New York
Kennedy Galleries, New York
Coe Kerr Gallery, New York
Meredith Long & Company, Houston, Texas
Adelson Galleries, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above

(possibly) Alfred Frankenstein, After the Hunt: William Harnett and Other American Still Life Painters 1870-1900, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1969, no. 12A, p. 165

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes, Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in good condition. The canvas is well stretched on its original stretcher. It is unlined, but the reverse has been treated with a sizing agent and the tacking edges have been reinforced. The paint layer is stable. Under ultraviolet light, it can be seen that the paint layer had been selectively cleaned, leaving uneven remnants of an old varnish in the majority of the darker areas of the composition. There are a series of retouches addressing small cracks in the banana furthest to the left. There are a few small retouches in the table top and in the left side of the table base. The work should be hung as is.
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.