Attributed to Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin

The board has been laid on canvas and is slightly warped towards the centre. The texture of the board is visible especially in upper left quadrant. There are losses along the edges of the board. There are nails along the edges. There is a vertical crack approximately 5cm in length to the centre of the bottom edge, as well as two vertical cracks to the upper left edge and a small crack to the lower right corner. There is a diagonal scratch towards the centre of the composition. There is a small area of loss above the rock in the lower middle. There is a small hole at the right corner approximately 10cm from the bottom edge. The surface is covered in a layer of dirt. Inspection under UV light does not reveal any apparent signs of retouching, although discoloured varnish prevents a more conclusive analysis. Held in a gold painted wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sunlight coming through the trees in the top right corner, the form of the boulders on the left and the various mint and moss greens are highly characteristic of Shishkin's forest scene. The bare ground in the top left of the composition suggests that this may be an unfinished plein air oil sketch.