SPANISH SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY | The Visitation

oil on copper

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 20 May 1993, lot 251;
There acquired by a private collector;
Thence by descent to the present owner.

The copper is slightly undulated as seen with the bottom half on the right side. All corners, specifically the top left and bottom right are bent. Underneath a dirty varnish, reads an extremely decorative image that still preserves some of the original impasto as well as lovely details in the landscape through the window. There are small spots of paint loss throughout the edges quite possibly as a result of old framing. Further spots of paint loss, which are barely noticeable, are on the blue robe of the central figure. On the red and blue robe of the figure at left are very thin scratches. Inspection under UV is difficult to read under the old varnish, though some retouches appear to be here and there, like on the robe of the central figure, on the brown hues of the composition, and on the stone walls. The painting is offered in an elaborately gilded wood frame.
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 provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour 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 because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

The view through the window in this painting is reminiscent of landscape paintings El Greco did of Toledo, one of which is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 29.100.6).