Portrait of a man surprised, possibly a self-portrait of the artist, Italian School, 17th Century

Italian School, 17th Century
Portrait of a man surprised, possibly a self-portrait of the artist

inscribed on the reverse of the panel, by a later hand: fecit 1697.
oil on canvas, laid on panel
canvas: 13½ by 11 in.; 34.3 by 27.9 cm.
Framed: 20 1/4 in by 17 3/4 in, 51.43 cm by 45.08 cm

Condition Report:
The canvas has been laid onto panel which is stable and secure in the frame. Cusping is visible along the left edge from the original stretching but it is not distracting. The paint surface has flattened a bit due to the transfer to panel but the image still reads well and appears fresh and painterly. Under UV inspection, the varnish is streaky and uneven, but retouching is visible in the right background as well as a few small scattered dots, not corresponding with the facial features. The painting can hang in its present state. Offered in a decoratively carved 17th-century Italian style giltwood frame.