IVAN KONSTANTINOVICH AIVAZOVSKY | The Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius

Estate of a Nobleman
Sotheby's London, The Russian Sale, 29 April 1999, lot 49

G.Caffiero and I.Samarine, Light, Water and Sky, London: Alexandria Press, 2012, p.305 illustrated

The canvas has been lined and the tacking edges are covered with tape. There is a fleck of paint loss to the lower right edge. There is craquelure throughout, most noticeably to the white in the foreground. Areas of retouching are visible to the naked eye, particularly a coin-sized area in the upper middle of the sky and in places along the edges. The paint surface along the edges of the work is uneven in places. There is a faint diagonal scratch to the upper left corner. The varnish has discoloured and there is a layer of surface dirt with flecks of dirt in places, including a drip mark in the upper left quadrant. Inspection under UV light reveals the aforementioned areas of retouching to the sky and along the edges. There are further scattered spots of retouching to the water and sky. Held in a gold-painted wooden frame. Unexamined out of 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. 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."

The IR-reflectogram reveals underdrawing beneath the paint as well as Aivazovsky's signature on the reverse of the original canvas concealed by the lining. 

The present work is included in the numbered archive of the artist's work compiled by Gianni Caffiero and Ivan Samarine.