NORTH ITALIAN SCHOOL, 16TH CENTURY | Portrait of a Gentleman, half length

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 not been recently restored. A fresh varnish would make it more presentable. The paint layer is stable and the old lining seems to be effective. However, the condition of the paint layer is uneven, with noticeable weakness, abrasion and paint loss showing in numerous areas. The face has been over cleaned and the shadow beneath the chin, the beard itself, the shoulders of the figure and much of the background is heavily restored. Cleaning the work and focusing more closely on the quality of the retouches would produce a better result. A fresh varnish and an adjustment of the existing retouches would also be worthwhile.
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