Studio of Sir Peter Paul Rubens

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 unstretched canvas obviously needs some structural work but for the most part the paint layer is in very healthy state. The darker blue and grey around the edges, particularly in the upper right and left corners and across the top, do not appear to be period. This painting has been sketched onto a lightly colored gesso. The canvas is lined yet the lining should most likely be reversed. When the canvas has been relined and stretched onto a stretcher, the paint layer could be cleaned safely, which will reveal the figure and the small amount of paint surrounding the figure in very good condition, with very little retouching required. Retouches will be required across the top edge, the bottom edge and around the other edges to fill some losses in the unpainted areas. Yet this is all incidental and although the picture currently looks a little worse for wear, it is in generally very good state.
"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."

This freely rendered oil sketch relates to the central figure of Cupid in Rubens' Meleager and Atalanta, now in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich,  inv. no. 284.