Bernardo Strozzi

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, January 26, 2005, lot 293;
There acquired by the present owner.

This painting, executed on paper, has been laid down on board. There appears to be an old crease to the paper in the middle of the painting, however this may just be two larger areas of retouch along the same line, these are located in the middle far-left, and middle far-right, both connecting to the edge of the composition. Another similar crease is located along the left edge of the composition, approximately five inches from the top corner. There are some other scattered retouches applied to the beard and clothing of the sitter. A varnish appears to be applied to the background mostly, though it could also be along the skintones. This varnish covers up some possible older retouches which are more difficult to read under UV. Most of the skin tones appear to remain in good condition. In a carved and painted giltwood frame.
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 does not appear to be a study for a specific figure in any of Strozzi's known paintings.  It may have functioned as a type of character study that the artist kept in his studio to use for reference or, perhaps, to be integrated into a future work.

We are grateful to Dr. Andaleeb Banta for confirming the attribution based on firsthand inspection.