SIR MATTHEW SMITH | PORTRAIT OF ERNEST MILTON

SIR MATTHEW SMITH
1879-1959
PORTRAIT OF ERNEST MILTON

signed on the reverse; signed and inscribed on the stretcher bar
oil on canvas
76.5 by 64cm.; 30¼ by 25¼in.
Executed circa the 1950s.

Condition Report:
The canvas appears original and undulates. There is frame abrasion and loss to the extreme edges. There are stretcher bar marks across the upper and lower edges, and towards the lower right corner, with associated areas of fine craquelure and tiny dots of loss, with possible further more minor instances elsewhere. There is a scuff to the upper right quadrant. There is a small area of lifting above the outstretched arm. There is a possible rub and loss to the hand on the right side and to the red on the back of the seat on the left side. There is a layer of dust and studio dirt to the work, with instances of accretions.

Inspection under Ultraviolet light reveals possible instances of fluorescence, but reading is hindered by varnish.

The work is presented in a painted wooden frame.

Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Provenance:
Lilian Bomberg

Acquired by the late owner by the 1990s