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 has not been restored for many years, but one can clearly see that it is in lovely condition. The old lining is probably not of service anymore, as the cracking is quite raised. The painting is extremely dirty. The only damage appears to be in the neck and chest of the child, where a vertical loss of about an inch and a half has been restored. Throughout the remainder of the picture, the paint layer is very lush and undamaged. If there are any other retouches, they are few and far between. This painting certainly will respond beautifully to cleaning and a better lining, and is in beautiful condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

We are grateful to Alastair Laing for proposing the attribution to Dumont le Romain on the basis of photographs. Dumont exhibited a painting of this subject in the 1737 Paris Salon though unfortunately the sparse information offered in the Salon catalogue means it is impossible to determine whether it relates to the present picture.  The elongation and rotation of the figures here retains a certain Italianate quality which was uncommon in French nude painting at that time.  

Le Romain, a celebrated artist in his lifetime, was accepted as a member of the Académie Royal de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1728.  So named due to a brief Roman sojourn in his youth, the painter's moniker served to distinguish him from his father and brother, Pierre and  François Dumont, both of whom were eminent sculptors.