Johann Zoffany R.A.

Sale, Langford's, February 23, 1763, lot 45, for £4.14.6;
John Birch, by 1814.

London, British Institution, 1814, no. 131 (lent by John Birch).

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 dramatic painting is in beautiful condition however, it is extremely dirty. The old lining is not successfully stabilizing the paint layer in the lower left. No retouches are visible either under ultraviolet light or to the naked eye. No damage is visible in the lighter colors of the figures and the still life in the lower left. There is very slight thinness in the right arm of the figure of Love and in this figure's right bicep interestingly a pentiment of the face has reappeared. The only area which may have received restoration is the upper background, which is very dark and we are unable to positively confirm that there are no restorations in this area. Full restoration of this picture will produce extremely striking results.
"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 painting will be included in the forthcoming monograph on the works of Zoffany by Mary Lightbown.

Although famous as a painter of conversation pieces, of which he was perhaps the greatest exponent, Zoffany also depicted history and mythological subjects, particularly in his earlier career. The present depiction of Time clipping the Wing of Love was painted by the artist in 1761, the year after he arrived in England, and is similar in style and composition to a Susanna and the Elders dated 1760 (Sale: Nagel, Stuttgart, April 20, 1991, lot 1907). 

We are grateful to Dr. Martin Postle for confirming the attribution to Zoffany, based on photographs.