ELISABETH-LOUISE VIGÉE LE BRUN | Portrait of Muhammad Dervish Khan, full-length, holding his sword in a landscape

The following condition report has been provided by Hamish Denwar Fine Art Conservation, 13 & 14 Mason's Yard, Duke Street, St James's, London, England, SW1Y 6BU, +44 (0) 20 7930 4004, hamish@hamishdewar.co.uk, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.The canvas has been lined and this is ensuring an even and secure structural support. Thecanvas extensions, which I assume are the artist's original canvas additions, on the left andright vertical edges are slightly raised and are visible but appear entirely secure. The leftvertical extension is approximately 4 cm in width and the right vertical extension isapproximately 5 cm in width. There is also a horizontal extension approximately 23 cm abovethe lower horizontal framing edge. The craquelure pattern is more pronounced within thisextension but is again secure.The paint surface has an even varnish layer.Inspection under ultraviolet light shows retouchings on and around the extensions mentionedabove other small scattered retouchings, with very small retouchings within the folds of thedraperies. There are only the most minimal retouchings on the face and hand and all of theretouchings appear to have been carefully and minimally applied. There may be furtherretouchings which are not easily identifiable under ultraviolet light. It is most encouraging tonote that the fine details of the painting appear to be very well preserved and the majority ofthe retouchings that have been applied relate to the canvas extensions, which themselves canbe regarded as being integral to the work.The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition, having beencarefully treated in the past, and no further work is required.
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