MICHAELINA WAUTIER | A garland of flowers, suspended between two animal skulls, a dragonfly above

The following condition report is provided by Sarah Walden who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: This painting is on a fine bevelled oak panel with a single joint. The left end of the joint appears to have moved slightly more than the smooth, even surface evident across the centre and on the right. There has been some corrective work behind this left end of the joint, reglueing and inserting a little narrow supportive vertical bar a few inches long behind. This seems to have been done comparatively recently, perhaps at the same time as the restoration, maybe towards the middle of the last century, to judge by slightly darkened retouching visible towards this left end of the joint. The magnificent condition elsewhere throughout appears scarcely touched. The upper background is faintly thin occasionally with rare minimal touches visible under ultra violet light, but these are negligeable imperfections in the exceptionally beautiful preservation of the vivid brushwork in every detail of the garland. This report was not done under laboratory conditions.
"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."