Francesco Foschi

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 probably never been restored. The condition is particularly good in many respects. However, the unlined canvas has become very distorted, particularly on the right side. Losses can be seen in the upper right above the birds in the sky and beneath the figures in the center right. There are also small losses in the sky around the tree. There are two squares in the center right that have been cleaned, and there are fresh retouches in the larger of the two squares. This is a work that probably should be lined, given the extreme instability to the paint layer and weakness of the original canvas. Once the work is lined or at least consolidated, the paint layer can be cleaned. Cleaning would produce a considerably brighter palette. With the right conservation, the attractive surface would remain.
"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."

The composition of this recently discovered, unlined canvas is almost identical to a smaller format version which Marietta Vinci-Corsini considers an early work by Foschi.¹ Cleaning tests in two areas of the present composition reveal Foschi's characteristic cool grey palette, and the draughtsmanship of the figures and rocky winter landscape is entirely consistent with his working style, a fact all the more impressive given the grand scale of the picture.

Based on photographs, Marietta Vinci Corsini believes the present work to be autograph.

1. M. Vinci-Corsini, Francesco Foschi, Geneva 2002, p. 168, cat. no. 12.