Apollonio di Giovanni
Triumph of Julius Caesar
Property from a Distinguished Private Collection
Apollonio di Giovanni
Florence circa 1416 - 1465
Triumph of Julius Caesar
inscribed upper center: .CESARE.
tempera and gold ground on panel
16 5/8 by 24 1/2 in.; 42.2 by 62.2 cm.
The following condition report has been provided by Karen Thomas of Thomas Art Conservation LLC., 119 West 23rd Street, Suite 400, New York, NY 10011, 212-564-4024, info@thomasartconservation.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
The poplar panel preserves its original thickness and is uncradled; it has been cut down from a larger cassone. An old crack is visible on the front, extending through the baldachin. The panel has a slight convex curvature.
The gilding is well generally preserved, though wear reveals the reddish bole in some areas. The silvering of the armor is more worn and is tarnished.
The paint film is in relatively good condition. The scene is intact, with a barbe at the perimeter indicating the original edges of the composition. Several cracks in the paint are evident at the upper left, a few of which have been retouched. There are scattered small damages throughout assuaged by generally fine retouching. A larger retouched lacuna is present in the frieze of the Pantheon. A few scratches have indented the paint. The varnish is thin and clear, with a moderate, even gloss.
The modern frame displays general wear and a few recent losses to the gilding on the lower and left sides.
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.
Lord Faringdon, United Kingdom;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 13 June 1934, lot 14;
W.B. Chamberlin, Hove, Sussex;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 25 February 1938, lot 39;
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 25 January 2002, lot 21;
There acquired.
E. Callman, Apollonio di Giovanni, Oxford 1974, p. 46, note 36, pp. 47-48, 73, cat. no. 52, reproduced plate 205;
C. Filippini, "Plutarco istoriato: le Vite parallele nella miniatura italiana del Quattrocento e la morte di Cesare nei cassoni fiorentini," in Biografia dipinta. Plutarco e l'arte del Rinascimento 1400-1560, La Spezia 2001, p. 196;
F. Pasut, The Alana Collection. Newark, Delaware, USA. Italian Paintings from the 13th to the 15th century, M. Boskovits (ed.), Florence 2009, pp. 32-36, cat. no. 6, reproduced.