Paul Joseph Guislain Surmont de Volsberghe (Gand 1802 - 1850) and Edouard De Vigne (Gand 1808 - 1866)

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 is in lovely condition. The canvas is unlined and still on its original stretcher. There have been hardly any retouches applied to this well-preserved picture and even though there is some slight cracking, in the sky particularly, we do not recommend any restoration. There is a dot of restoration visible under ultraviolet light in the upper right sky and one other restoration in the base of the tree trunk in the center left side. Although the old varnish has been unevenly cleaned, there do not appear to be any other restorations of note and we recommend the picture be hung as is.
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.

Edouard De Vigne was the pupil of Paul Joseph Guislain Surmont de Volsberghe.  They both specialized in landscapes, especially Italian views.