Attributed to Domenico Campagnola

Casa Cambiaso, Genoa;
Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Lady"), London, Christie's, 8 July 1977, lot 115 (as Bonifazio Veronese);
Private collection, Florence.

The painting is lighter in colour and fresher in tone than the catalogue illustration would suggest. The paint surface is in good overall condition bar some minor flakes of paint loss around the edges in the peripheral areas of the composition and there is some assocaited cracking lower right. Otherwise there are some old very minor scattered losses and retouches but these do not compromise the integrity of the image. Finally there are some minor restored surface scratches in the sky which are only visible under a raking light. Examiation under ultraviolet reveals a thick varnish as well as retouching to the aforementioned cracking, surface scratches and around the edges. Otherwise there are very minor flecks of cosmetic retouching in the figures. Overall though the picutre is in good overall condition. Offered unframed.
"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."

We are grateful to Professor Mauro Lucco for tentatively suggesting an attribution to Domenico Campagnola, circa 1517-20 on the basis of digital photographs.

The pair to the present painting was sold New York, Christie’s, 31 May 1991, lot 31 as The Crowning of the Poet by Bonifazio Veronese.  Both panels depict allegorical subjects and their convex format suggests they would have been used as decorative parade shields for public pageantry, theatrical masques, civic entries or triumphal processions. A number of these shields survive from the first half of the sixteenth century including two shields attributed to Girolamo da Treviso the Younger sold London, Christie’s, 5 July 2011, lot 1 (for £361,250) and New York, Christie’s, 25 January 2012, lot 29 (for $542,500).