Nicolas de Largillièrre

Anonymous sale, Versailles, Martin-Chausselat, 28 June 1998, lot 11;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 1999, lot 383.

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 work has an effective old lining. It is not necessarily clean. The varnish is dull. Under ultraviolet light, there are a few retouches visible in the background above the figure's hair, in the lower left, on the left side and in the dark profile of the dog's head. The palette will obviously brighten if the work is cleaned, but some old retouches would probably become apparent. If the varnish were freshened, the work could be hung as is.
"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."

At the time of the earlier sales (see Provenance), Dominique Brême confirmed the attribution to Largillièrre.  This painting is an autograph, smaller version of Largillièrre's portrait in the National Museum, Warsaw (inv. 47186, oil on canvas, 135 by 106 cm.).