Luca Giordano

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of 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 painting is in wonderful condition. It is originally made from two pieces of canvas joined vertically through the center of the work. There are only a few retouches along the original join and to a vertical break to the immediate right of the dark wing of the angel, measuring about 5 inches. The work may have never been fully cleaned, and the patina to the paint layer is unusual and beautiful as a result. Nonetheless, careful cleaning would add more color and depth to the work, and should reveal the paint layer to be in especially good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

We are grateful to Giuseppe Scavizzi for endorsing the attribution to Giordano, based on photographs. Professor Scavizzi dates the picture to circa 1650-1655, thus ranking it among Giordano's earliest compositions.