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 is painted on a beautifully preserved oak panel. The panel is unreinforced and has an original join running vertically through the center. The panel is flat. The paint layer is stable and in very good state. Under ultraviolet light, one can see some strongly fluorescent retouches in the background and in a few spots in the beard. The lighter colors in the face are healthy. There is an old milky varnish to the surface which seems to cover some older broader restorations beneath the beard, in the dark side of the hair and elsewhere. These have been added to eliminate some old thinness, which could be restored much more economically.
"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."