The Virgin and Child, Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio

Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio
Florence 1435 - 1488 Venice
The Virgin and Child

tempera grassa on poplar panel
panel: 27¾ by 18⅜ in.; 70.5 by 46.6 cm.
framed: 27¼ by 23 in.; 69.2 by 58.4 cm.

Condition Report:
The following condition report is provided by Henry Gentle who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's.

The Virgin and Child Tempera on panel transferred to a panel with an interleafing canvas, in a modern altarpiece frame. The poplar support, which shows evidence of historic worm damage, appears stable. Horizontal recessed tapering channels, without the tapered battens, are visible. X-ray imaging reveals that there is a layer of fabric under the paint layer. There is a narrow unpainted border to the panel. There is vertical hairline fracture visible to the reverse and a conserved historic repair. The paint layer is stable and secure. A significant reduction of dark shrinkage craquelure and mitigation of the pale ground colour has been undertaken to the background and through the flesh tones of the figures. The painting is quite heavily retouched. The original gold leaf decoration to halos and drapery edging has been augmented. Minor loss through the Madonna's blue cloak has been addressed and hair texture to the figures has been strengthened. Original preserved paint can be seen through the Madonna's red dress, the carnations and some of the flesh tones, and details to the background are intact. The restoration has been well executed.