Reverse: A panel comprising three boards, chamfered at all edges. Right join at the reverse appears staggered/overlapped, and the ends are slightly open at the reverse. The left join has been planed down and a batton affixed along the length just short of the bottom edge where the join is slightly open. There is a split 3 inches from the left running approx 13 inches up the painting from the bottom, and a further split 1..5inches from the left edge at the top running 4 inches down the panel. There is a patch of disrupted wood - likely a knot lower right side of the middle board. Framed with pins going across the grain, likely causing tension.

Face: Both splits have been open/mobile at the face and the shorter split has been filled and retouched. The right hand join has been opened up and filled and retouched down the full length, and the left join appears to have been opened most of the way, with associated retouching. There has been some damage, cracking and loss to the area associated with the knot in the wood, with some restoration in this area. There is a finescale brittle age craquelure throughout, mostly associated with the grain of the panel. Some very slight and minor raised areas at the bottom edge, but mostly the paint layers are flat and stable. The filling and retouching at the joins/splits is cracking and beginning to flake. There are further scattered minor restored losses throughout, mostly retouched. There is some futher broad, brushy overpaint around the joins, and further possible overpaint to abrasion in the background and drapery. The very thick old varnish makes it difficult to establish the extent of the overpaint in the dark areas. There has been some abrasion to the paint layers, particularly the face, hair and ruff that are thin, again it is difficult to see the extent of this in the darker areas. There has been a campaign of overpaint to suppress this in places, including in hair, face, beard (see images). Some further touches of overpaint to suppress wood grain. A bit of ingrained dirt and varnish. Very thick upper varnish layer/layers, which are yellowed and degraded. A surface dirt layer. Minor scuffs and scratches, surface accretions.

We are happy to provide Condition Reports to Prospective Buyers, but would welcome your request as soon as possible, preferably at least 48 hours before the Day of Sale.

We cannot guarantee a reply to any requests made within 48 hours of the start of the auction. The absence of a condition report from a lot does not mean that the lot is in perfect condition.

 A Condition Report is an honest expression of our opinion, not a statement of fact and is provided as a service to the Seller. All lots are available on public view ahead of an auction and we encourage people to see an item in person when possible.

Our Condition Reports are not prepared by professional conservators, restorers or engineers, and are prepared with the naked eye unless otherwise stated.

 Works are not examined out of the frame, unless specifically stated. We accept no liability for the opinions expressed in any Condition Report.

Tennants Auctioneers do not cover damage to gilded wood or plaster picture frames, or to picture frame glass whilst the item is in our possession.