IVAN IVANOVICH SHISHKIN | Woodland Brook

In the same family since before 1917

Structural Condition: the artist's two pieces of card are well adhered to the underlying canvas support. The canvas is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. Paint Surface: the paint surface has a discoloured and degraded varnish layer. There is also evidence of ingrained dirt and the painting would respond well to cleaning. There is a thin crease line within the red/brown riverbank in the lower left quadrant of the composition. This is stable. There is a very small network of craquelure within the water in the lower centre of the of the composition. This is also stable. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms the discoloured and degraded varnish layer which prevents the ultraviolet light from fully penetrating. Inspection under ultraviolet light also shows a few small recently applied retouchings within the water and the riverbank. There are further retouchings within the composition which have a faint fluorescence and are obscured by the discoloured varnish layers including a vertical band of retouching corresponding to where the two pieces of card meet. Summary: the painting would therefore appear to be in good and stable condition and would respond well to cleaning, restoration and revarnishing including the removal and careful replacement of any existing restoration work.
"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."