Francesco Solimena

Private collection, United Kingdom.

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. The restoration to this picture is fresh and good, and the painting itself is in marvelous condition. The canvas has a careful and recent lining. The paint layer is clean and nicely varnished. The retouches are very well applied. The only concentration of restoration is in the center of the right side in the background, where an area of loss or abrasion measuring 3 by 1 ½ inches has been corrected. The few other retouches that have been applied are clearly visible under ultraviolet light in a few spots on the left side of the white drapery around the child, in a few spots in the Madonna's magenta blouse, in the sleeve in the lower right and in a couple of isolated spots immediately surrounding her headdress. The condition is extremely good.
"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."

Nicola Spinosa has confirmed this painting to be by Solimena and comparable to another Madonna and Child by the artist, dateable to circa 1728-1732, in the Graf Harrach collection, Schlossmuseum Rohrau.¹  Though the arrangement of the figures is different, Solimena appears to have used the same models in both paintings for the Madonna and Christ Child.

 

1.  In a letter dated 8 March 2011.