Studio of Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez Seville 1599 - 1660 Madrid

Acquired by an important French Manufacturer at the beginning of the twentieth century;
Thence by descent to the present owner. 

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The canvas is lined and the paint surface is stable. The ground colour is apparent through the thin paint of the sky and there is extensive restoration here to conceal this. There are restored paint losses to lower right , beneath the dog, to the foreground, to the dress of the sitter, to the background right, the back of the dog's head and to the face of the sitter. The thin sketchy paint layer, mid ground left of sitter and the dark foreground, have also been augmented by restoration. There is a discoloured varnish, the removal of which would enhance the tonality."
"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."

Velázquez's prototype for this work, dating from 1632-33, is in the Museo del Prado, Madrid (see J. López-Rey, Velázquez, vol. II, Cologne 1996, p. 158, cat. no. 64, reproduced).