With Francesco Genova, Venice, from whom acquired by the grandfather of the present owner in October 1957.

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 painting on canvas appears to have originally been made from two sections of canvas joined horizontally through the center of the book. The canvas has been lined and the surface is stable, although a little uneven, and the lining could be improved. There is a visible restoration in the upper center background above the head of the sitter and to the left of the hourglass. These are typical for pictures from this region. There are restorations here and there which address paint losses mainly focused in the book and across the canvas join. For the most part the condition is extremely good and the face, the hands, the neck, the books in the upper right are all very well preserved. If the restoration were reconsidered in a few areas, possibly including the lining, then the picture would seem to be in very good state.
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.

Dionysius Cato (or sometimes simply "Cato") was the supposed author of a book of moral lessons and proverbs written in couplet form, known as the Distichs.  The elevated tone of the work and the format of the writings made the book an extremely popular text from which to learn Latin, a position it held even into the 19th Century.  The words on the open book in the present painting come from a couplet in Bo🍨ok I, verse 5:

Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores:
Cum culpant alios, nemo sine crimine vivit.¹

We arܫe grateful to Nicola Spinosa for attributing this work to the 𒁏artist on the basis of photographs.

 

1  ^"If you examine the life of a man, and even just&nb🌼sp;his habits, who finds fault with others, no one li💜ves without fault."