About this lot

Description

Portrait of a lady, said to be Mrs Penning, half length, in a pale grey dress with pink ribbons and pearls, standing at a spinet, with a musical score indistinctly inscribed and dated "1764[?]" lower right on the spinet oil on canvas, in a feigned oval, in its original 18th Century gilded wood frame 75 x 62cm

Footnote: Provenance: With Newhouse Galleries, London, 1992, as 'Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough'. Sotheby's New York, 7 October 1994, lot 9, as 'Circle of Allan Ramsey'. Sotheby's London, 3 April 1996, lot 59, as 'John Astley'. Christie's London, The Manolo March Collection from Son Galceran, Mallorca, 28 October 2009, lot 46, where purchased by the present owner

Condition report: Support: The canvas has an old paste lining that maintains a good tension and remains structurally stable. There are two restored tears in the left background, neither of which are visible from a viewing distance. Varnish: The varnish appears reasonably clear, though lacks clarity in the background. There are narrow bands of restoration around the edges and in the background; none of which are immediately obvious. Paint layer: The drawing, detail and subtleties of colour and tone in the figure remain in a good condition. There is some slight abrasion and the texture of the paint has been flattened by the lining treatment. Ultra-violet fluorescence examination: Reveals a moderately aged varnish and confirms the aforementioned restoration. The figure remains free of restoration with the exception of a few tiny strokes to conceal craquelure.

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