Carlo Bononi Ferrara 1569 - 1632

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. These paintings have both been recently restored and if the varnish were to be dressed up slightly, they could be hung as is. They are both difficult to read under ultraviolet light yet it seems safe to say that both sides of each picture has been extended by half or three-quarters of an inch. The tops and bottoms have a smaller amount of retouching. In the paintings themselves the condition seems to be much better and although a few retouches here and there may be expected, visually they seem to be quite fresh. It is purely the edges of both pictures which have been added to for cosmetic reasons.
"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."

The present Annunciation appears to be an early work by Bononi, when he would have still been very much under the influence of Ippolito Scarsellino, at the end of the 17th century the most important artist in Ferrara.  The combination in these canvasses of distinctly Ferrarese elements with Venetian coloring also points to the impact that Venetian artists had on the young Bononi. 

We are grateful to Maria Angela Novelli, who, based on photographs, has proposed an attribution to the young Carlo Bononi.  An alternative attribution to Andrea Schiavone has been suggested.