A nighttime scene with witchcraft, lit by torchlight, Spanish School, circa 1800

Property of a Private American Collector
Spanish school, circa 1800
A nighttime scene with witchcraft, lit by torchlight

oil on paper possibly laid on canvas and backed with board
sheet: 7⅝ by 9⅝ in.; 19.5 by 24.4 cm.
framed: 10⅞ by 12⅞ in.; 27.6 by 32.7 cm.

Condition Report:
The painting appears to be on paper and it is protected on the reverse by a board. It may be laid on canvas, although this is difficult to discern in its current construction, as edges are not visible. The edges of the paper wrap around the edges of the board. The paint layer is stable, and the image reads relatively clearly beneath an old varnish. There is one thin line of abrasion near the figure at upper center and another line in the upper right corner, although this is not distracting. There is an area of unevenness to the varnish near the center of the right edge, visible only in raking light, and there are some very fine cracks to the painted flame at center. Inspection under UV reveals an old, milky varnish that is difficult to read through in areas. There may be some old restoration near the center of the right edge, and there may be some more fine strokes of strengthening in some of the darker details, including in the lower right corner and in the figure at lower left. Offered in a dark wood frame.