William Gear, R.A.

The Estate of the Artist, from whom acquired by the present owner

Original canvas. The canvas is sound. There are several instances of craquelure, particularly apparent along the upper horizontal edge and in the centre of the work. There is a resultant tiny fleck of loss near the left hand side of the upper edge, and a few further tiny flecks of loss in the upper right corner. There is some light surface dirt to the work. There are some frame abrasions along the edges visible in a few places. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals some areas of fluorescence to the pigments, which may be in keeping with the Artist's technique, but make the reading hard to interpret. The work is held within a simple black painted wood frame with a beige slip. 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."