The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of 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 work has a good lining that is nicely stabilizing the paint layer. The painting is clean, well retouched and varnished. The retouches are all visible under ultraviolet light. In the sky, there is a group of retouches to the left of the head of the female figure further to the right. There is a small group of retouches in the white cloud in the upper center, and slightly more involved retouching in the profiles of the clouds in the upper center near the top edge. The foliage on the left side of the work shows no restorations, and there are none in the trees on the right side. Beneath the figures, there are retouches in a straight line across the bottom of the oval. In the figures, the golden dress on the far right has received a few small retouches. There are a few small retouches in the waist of the central male figure in the pink culottes. There are very few retouches in the figure group on the left side, with only a few spots in the cello, black coat of the seated figure, and red coat of the flutist. The fine details throughout, including in the faces, are very well preserved. The work should be hung in its current state.

The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.