Circle of Anton Raphael Mengs

With Harari & Johns, Ltd., London;
By whom given to the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1985 [acc. no. 1985.596].

"Year in Review for 1986", in Cleveland Museum of Art Bulletin, February 1987, no. 40 (mentioned in the article but not exhibited);
A. Chong, European & American Painting in The Cleveland Museum of Art:  A Summary Catalogue, Cleveland 1993, p. 154.
S. Roettgen, Anton Raphael Mengs 1728 - 1779:  Das malerische und zeichnerische Werk, Munich 1999, vol. I, p. 343, under no. 275 (as still with Harari & Johns, Ltd. in 1985).

The canvas is not lined. The surface of the work is in very good condition. There is craquelure throughout, mostly in the face of the subject. There is one minute scrape in the upper left corner. There are also some small abrasions above the head of the subject. Under UV; rather heavy, even varnish and scattered inpainting throughout the work.
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 repeats the composition of Anton Raphael Mengs's famous Self Portrait in the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. C.P. 106, n. 555).  In her monograph on the artist, Steffi Roettgen acknowledges it as "one of the best" of the known replicas of the work, even suggesting that it could have been executed by the artist's studio, with Mengs providing the final retouching himself (see Literature).