LOT DETAILS

Materials:

oil on canvas

Measurements:

18.39 in. (46.70 cm.) (height) by 30.87 in. (78.40 cm.) (width)

Condition:

The following condition report is provided by Henry Gentle who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Bernardo Bellotto The Market Square Oil on canvas, in a reproduction gilt wood frame in good condition The original canvas has an old lining and has been more recently strip-lined to strengthen the tacking edge. Raking light shows the coarse nature of the original canvas which retains a good tension. There is no distortion to the canvas. Under UV light the top edge is visibly strengthened to a width of 5cm. Similarly a 3cm wide strip along the bottom edge has been strengthened. A reduction of diagonal stretcher marks from an old stretcher can be detected in the sky, top left and right. The paint layer, generally, is well preserved, although some of the more pronounced areas of paint impasto, particularly to the highlights, have been slightly compromised. Under UV lighting further scattered loss can be seen across the surface where pitted loss to the paint layer has occurred. Minor abrasion to the 'peaks' of the textured canvas is evident; this is most visible to the roofs and the flagstone paving. Some strengthening of the shadows has been undertaken and likewise the darker aspects of the buildings, such as the window frames and the finials. There is still a crispness remaining to the composition and the colours saturate well and retain their vibrancy. Much of the restoration is excessive and not well colour matched. The removal of the remains of a degraded varnish would improve the overall tonality. "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."

Exhibited:

New York, New York World's Art Fair, ; Masterpieces of Art, May–October 1940, no. 36.

Literature:

W. Pach, ; Catalogue of European & American Paintings, 1500–1900, exh. cat., Masterpieces of Art, New York 1940, p. 28, no. 36, reproduced; ; The Samuel H. Kress Collection, exh. cat., Houston 1953, pp. 68–69, reproduced plate 31; ; S. Kozakiewicz, Bernardo Bellotto, London 1972, vol. II, p. 173, no. 214, reproduced p. 170, and p. 513, under no. Z503; ; E. Camesasca, L'opera completa di Bernardo Bellotto, Milan, 1974, p. 100, no. 107A (as an entirely or mostly autograph replica).

Provenance:

Emile Pereire (1800–1875); ; Probably anonymous sale, Paris, Galerie Charpentier, 24–25 May 1935, lot 47; ; With Knoedler; ; From whom acquired by Dorothy Willard in 1938; ; With Knoedler by 1950; ; From whom acquired by Hirsch & Adler in 1956; ; With Arturo Grassi, New York; ; Private collection;  ; Anonymous sale ('Property of a Family'), New York, Christie's, 24 January 2003, lot 163, where acquired by the present collector for $880,000.