AFTER GIROLAMO DA SANTACROCE | Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi and Nicolas of Bari

oil on canvas; inscribed lower left: 'ECCE· AGNUS· DEI·'

Private collection, Florida;
By descent to the present owner.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is on canvas and has an old lining. The paint layer remains unstable in areas on the right side, center right and lower left corner. The painting is extremely dirty and very dull. If the picture were cleaned, a heavy layer of airborne would be removed to reveal a considerably brighter palette. Ideally, the extensive old retouches would remain undisturbed. These may address some old heat damage. While some areas perhaps the cloak of Saint John and the landscape behind the figures might be in reasonably good condition, the unclothed portions of the figures themselves seem to have suffered greatly. Changing the lining would improve the surface, and cleaning the picture to a degree would make the image more visible. This approach to restoration could be done for a reasonable cost, but full cleaning and complete restoration would be an enormous undertaking with uneven results.
"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."

This painting, probably done in the 16th or 17th century, derives from a composition by Girolamo da Santacroce last known in a Private Collection, Milan.