Neapolitan School, 17th Century

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. It appears that this pair may well have originally been a single picture, which was subsequently divided through the hanging duck and through the red berries on the tabletop. There may have been further sections on each side however, now both sections are mounted onto plywood. The paint layers are most likely clean and the varnish is reasonably successful. While this method of support is reversible, it is not necessary or inexpensive. Under ultraviolet light retouches are visible in both pictures that retouches here and there, yet not in any great number, to address small losses and thinness. In the panel with the apples in the bowl, there is more restoration in the darker colors of the birds in the upper portion of the picture and although the old varnish may be baffling the ultraviolet light and there may be other restorations, the condition is reasonably good. The approach to the restoration is a little sloppy, but a fresh varnish will make a difference.
"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 "pair" of paintings was, in fact, originally a single composition that was cut in half and made up as a pair.   Based on photographs, Prof. Alberto Crispo has identified them as part of a group of about ten still lifes which are clearly by the same hand, most likely by an artist working in Naples.  One, depicting Two Roosters surrounded by a Woodpecker, a Jay and other Birds, was offered at Sotheby's, London, April 16, 1997, lot 179, where the two chickens are painted in a very similar manner and position as in one of the present canvases.  Another example from the group was sold at Pandolfini, Florence, March 28, 2006, lot 337; that picture included groups of hanging game birds and various fruits.  Prof. Crispo plans to publish an article on this group of paintings, including the present pair, where he hopes to illuminate the artistic personality of this still life painter more fully.  We are grateful for his help in cataloguing this lot.