Anne Vallayer-Coster

E. Kahng and M. Roland Michel, in Anne Vallayer-Coster, Painter to the Court of Marie-Antoinette, exhibition catalogue, Washington D.C. 2002, under Catalogue of Extant Paintings, p. 212. cat. no. 90, reproduced.

An old glue relining is firm and stable. The paint surface has been pressed in the relining and there is a degree of thinness in the background and foreground. Despite this, the overall composition still reads well and presents a very decorative and attractive image. Examination under UV light: the old varnish fluoresces unevenly. There is some retouching along the extreme upper edge. There is a horizontal line of retouching in the upper canvas and another vertical line along right side. This is possibly due to pressure on the canvas from a previous stretcher. There is some retouching at the left side with a diagonal line lower left over an old scratch or tear. Retouching to the roses at center left and some other small retouches here and there on the flowers, some in the form of inpaints to craquelure. Some retouching to foreground ledge. In a carved and gilt wood frame.
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