John Piper, C.H.

Sale, Christie's London, 6th June 2008, lot 126, where acquired by the present owner
Private Collection, U.K.

The sheet is adhered to a backing card at the upper corners. The sheet undulates slightly but otherwise appears sound. There are some spots of old adhesive and paper along the upper edge, and the upper edge is slightly uneven, possibly as a result of being taken from a sketchbook, visible when the work is viewed unframed. There are some extremely fine lines of craquelure and one or two tiny scattered losses to some of the darker pigments. There are two small creases, one to the centre of the right vertical edge and one to the lower right corner, only visible upon extremely close inspection. There may be some slight fading to the pigments and light discolouration to the sheet, again, only visible upon extremely close inspection. Subject to the above, the work appears to be in very good overall condition. The work is window mounted and presented in a dark painted wooden frame, held under glass. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present 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. 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."