Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes Toulouse 1750 - 1819 Paris

Anonymous sale, Monaco, Sotheby's, February 14, 1983, lot 685.

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 has been fairly recently restored and could be hung as is. The paint layer has been cleaned, varnished and retouched. Retouches are visible under ultraviolet light addressing a horizontal tear situated in the tree in the upper left, running approximately three inches long. There are a few tiny cracks which have been retouched in the sky and another patch of restoration has been added in the center right, probably addressing some abrasion. There is still some thinness visible in the profile of the tree against the sky in the upper right however, the remainder of the painting appears to be very healthy.
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.

This painting may be identifiable with the one exhibited in the Paris Salon of 1796, under no. 468, which was titled Psyché, cherchant l'Amour, rencontre le vieillard qui lui aide à passer le ravin pour la conduire dans sa grotte.