THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R.A. | Going to Market, Early Morning

The following condition report is provided by Henry Gentle who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Thomas Gainsborough Going to market-early morning Oil on canvas, in a gilt frame. The original canvas is lined and the paint layer is stable and secure. The paint layer is in an exceptional preserved original condition. Under raking light the paint layer is raised and there is evidence of earlier diagonal stretcher bar marks at the corners. At some point the canvas has been knocked to the reverse, to the left of the bay horse in the foreground, resulting in a minor paint loss and development of concentric and radiating hairline stress fractures . Fine details such as the wisps of straw in the basket and the facial features have been well preserved and the delicate nuances of tone to the feathering of the foliage, the contrast in the tree trunk and the subtleties of the cooler mid ground colours are very well preserved. There is some minor repaired loss along the very bottom edge and 1-3 minor re-touchings can be detected under u-v light across the surface. Natural fine pale shrinkage craquelure is apparent in some of the darker passages. An improvement in the overall tonality would be achieved by removal of the discoloured varnish. The painting, overall, is in a very good original state.
"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."