ANTONIO JOLI | Naples, a view of the Riviera di Chiaia, from the North-West;Paestum, a view of the Valley of the Temples

The following condition report is provided by Sarah Walden who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: This pair of paintings both have had comparatively recent linings, with stretchers of the same period likely to have been made in Spain, so presumably before the turn of the last century, since when they have apparently been in Italy. Both are in exceptionally beautiful condition. They have clearly remained in peaceful surroundings over earlier centuries, with minimal intervention. There are only occasional little minor retouchings in the sky above the view of Naples with none visible under ultra violet light in the foreground. In the view of Paestum a few little retouches can be seen under UV along the lower left edge, and along the upper outermost edge. Elsewhere the magnificent detail of the temples, with the animals and vegetation surrounding them, are perfectly preserved. In the sky the little, light horizontal drifts of cloud sweeping across the larger cloudscape seem to have become slightly thin or possibly faded, and have been lightly strengthened. This is only visible under UV. Elsewhere there is no retouching in the sky, and no trace of damage of any sort throughout these two finely preserved paintings, with their beautiful balance of tone and light perfectly intact. This report was not done under laboratory conditions.
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