Reginald Marsh

Senator William Benton, New York (acquired from the artist)
Marjorie and Charles Benton, Wilmette, Illinois
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York

Evanston, Illinois, Terra Museum of American Art, Two Hundred Years of American Painting from Private Chicago Collections, 1983, no. 51
St. Louis, The Greenberg Gallery, Reginald Marsh Exhibition, 1986

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes, 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 large and important work is not in good condition. The canvas has been lined onto cotton duck with a heavy application of paint. While the scaffold and lower part of the picture seem to be quite well preserved despite isolated retouches to address some thinness to some of the details in the darkest colors, the sky in the upper half of the painting has attracted numerous retouches throughout. Most of these retouches have blanched and are visible to the naked eye. The work is painted on quite a fine weave canvas, and it was presumably overcleaned and retouched accordingly. It seems unlikely that one would find an undamaged paint layer if these retouches were removed. There are also visible abrasions in the scaffolding and in the wires connecting the cranes to the beams. The work would respond well to proper and careful restoration.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.