FLEMISH SCHOOL, LATE 16TH CENTURY | An elegantly-dressed lady at an organ, as Saint Cecilia

The panel is slightly bowed and stable, and has 3 vertical battens affixed to the reverse - these seem to relate to old, repaired vertical splits which are visible from the front under raking light. The paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish is clear. There are 3 small surface scratches with associated visible retouching in the background centre right between the figure and the organ, the longest of which measures 2 cm. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouching along the aforementioned vertical splits: one on the right-hand side runs the height of the panel, and two in the centre, one which runs the height of the panel, and one which extends from the upper margin to the sitter's shoulder. There are pin-prick retouchings scattered in the sitter's face, ruff, hand (notably in her outstretched finger), and black bodice. There are further small retouchings scattered in the background and in the organ, most notably in the lower right corner, and along all four margins, particularly the upper margin. Despite these interventions the paintings appears clean and ready to hang.
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