Netherlandish School, 16th Century

The panel is cradled, flat, and comprised of two boards with a horizontal join that runs through the center and has a faint, diagonal crack. There is some minor scuffing along the edges, possibly due to framing. A faint area of abrasion is above the figures' head, meanwhile another small area of inconsistency is in the upper right area. Under UV light the aforementioned join and faint crack fluoresce. Some scattered spots of retouching, which are visible to the naked eye, are at the center of the lower edge, at the upper right corner of the curtain, and at the center of the right edge. Further reading under UV is impeded due to the milky varnish, though smaller, scattered spots of retouches appear to be here and there. The panel is offered in a simple wood frame.
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.

This is a copy after a painting by Joos van Cleve in the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples.¹ The painting belongs to a large group of works depicting the same subject, which attest to its popularity in Netherlands during the 16th Century.²  This composition, with the intertwined infant figures, is said to derive from a lost painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. 1. See J. O. Hand, Joos van Cleve: The Complete Paintings, New Heaven and London 2004, p. 164, cat. no. 80, reproduced p. 98, fig. 105.
2. See M. Leeflang, Joos van Cleve: A Sixteenth-Century Antwerp Artist and his Workshop, Antwerp 2015, pp. 79-85.