French School, 17th Century

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 charming painting has not been cleaned for many years and is yellowed with old varnish. It probably would be productive to clean the picture at this point. The work seems to be unlined, but the tacking edges have been reinforced. There is recent restoration in the sky immediately to the left of the head of the figure that addresses a small puncture which has been repaired on the reverse. The upper sky has become quite uneven, but this may be resolved when the picture is cleaned. The condition of the painting seems to be very good in general.
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An attribution to the Maître des Cortèges has been suggested for this painting.  This anonymous master was active in the middle of the 17th century in Paris.  He was clearly influenced by the works of the Le Nain brothers but his stylistic individuality, and the high quality of those paintings securely given to him, allows his work to be distinguished from their lesser followers.  His two most important works, and those from which his name is derived, are a Procession with a Ram in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a Procession with a Bull in the Musée du Louvre (on deposit with the Musée Picasso).