PIETER BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER | Winter landscape with a bird trap

The following condition report is provided by Simon Folkes who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Pieter Brueghel the Younger: The Bird Trap Oil on panel. 15 1/8 x 22 3/16 in. 38.5 x 56.4 cm. Support The painting is on a thin oak panel consisting of a single piece of wood which remains virtually flat with only a very slight concave curve when seen from the back. The panel has no additions or supports in the form of battens or cleats and remains in excellent condition. There is a panel-maker's letter "A" (Antwerp?) engraved into the back along with some other motifs which are illegible. Paint layers The condition of the paint layers is generally extremely good with no major damages of any significance. There is a small diagonal scuff line which runs through the branches of one of the bushes in the bottom centre foreground which has removed some small flakes of paint and there are also a scattering of tiny losses in the frozen river above. A horizontal abrasion runs through the top of the principal tree and there are also a few tiny losses around this damage. There is a further small loss in the sky just above the tallest of the trees on the left, two others below the pair of flying birds in the centre of the painting and an old filling at the top right-hand corner. The sky has also been slightly abraded in places resulting in the loss of some of the top glazes. Otherwise the paint layers remain remarkably well preserved. Varnish coating The painting currently has a thin and transparent coat of resin varnish.
"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."