LOT DETAILS

Materials:

oil on panel

Measurements:

30.28 in. (76.90 cm.) (height) by 19.33 in. (49.10 cm.) (width)

Condition:

The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Structural Condition The panel has been cradled and this is ensuring a sound structural support with the various panel joins and splits appearing to be secure with an even profile. Paint surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. Inspection under ultraviolet light shows small, scattered retouchings which have clearly been carefully applied. The most significant of these are: 1) vertical lines running down from the upper horizontal edge on either side of the Madonna, and a horizontal band of retouching running along the upper horizontal edge. 2) A very thin vertical line running down through the sky towards the Madonna's left shoulder. 3) Very small vertical lines running up from the lower horizontal edge and retouchings within the draperies around the Christ Child's foot. 4) There are also a number of very small spots presumably covering old worm holes and other scattered retouchings including thin lines strengthening the folds of the draperies. There may be further retouchings beneath opaque varnish layers that are not easily identifiable under ultraviolet light. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in good and and stable condition having evidently been carefully and successfully treated in the past and no further work is required. "This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Exhibited:

London, Burlington Fine Arts Club, ; Winter Exhibition, Catalogue of a Collection of Pictures, decorative furniture…, 1907, no. 1; ; Berlin, Kaiser-Friedrich-Museums Verein, 1914, no. 11; ; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Italian Art from the 13^th Century to the 17^th Century, 1955, no. 21 (as Botticelli).

Literature:

H. Cook, ‘Notizie d’Inghilterra’, in ; L’Arte, XI, 1908, p. 58 (the Virgin as Botticelli, and the child to a weaker hand); ; H.P. Horne, Alessandro Filipepi, Commonly Called Sandro Botticelli, Painter of Florence, London 1908, p. 140, Italian ed., Florence 1986, pp. 209 and 460 (as an admirable studio copy);

Langton Douglas, 1911, p. 270 ; Possibly J.A. Crowe and G.B. Cavalcaselle, A History of Painting in Italy, vol. IV, London 1911, p. 269 (as 'A Madonna and Child' by Botticelli in the Eduard Simon collection); ; Y. Yashiro, Sandro Botticelli, London and Boston 1925, vol. I, p. 236 (as studio of Botticelli); ; A. Venturi, Botticelli, Rome, 1925, pp. 58–59, pl. XCII (as Botticelli?); ; R. Van Marle, The Development of the Italian Schools of Painting, vol. XII, The Hague 1931, pp. 232–33 and 236 (as workshop of Botticelli); ; C. Gamba, Botticelli, Milan 1936, pp. 149–50 (as a good studio replica); ; R. Salvini, Tutta la pittura del Botticelli, Milan 1958, vol. II, p. 73, reproduced plate 133a (as studio of Botticelli). ; Italian Art from the 13^th Century to the 17^th Century, exh. cat., Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham and London 1955, p. 14, no. 21 (as Botticelli); ; E.K. Waterhouse, ‘The Italian Exhibition at Birmingham’, in The Burlington Magazine, XCVII, 630, 1955, p. 295, reproduced p. 294, fig. 33 (the heads of the Virgin and child as Botticelli, the child's legs to an assistant); ; R. Lightbown, Sandro Botticelli, London 1978, vol. II, p. 120, no. C9 (under workshop and school pieces); ; G. Mandel, Botticelli. L’opera completa del Botticelli, Milan 1978, p. 99, no. 88, reproduced p. 98 (as studio of Botticelli); ; H.P. Horne, Alessandro Filipepi detto Sandro Botticelli pittore in Firenze, Florence 1987, p. 179, n. 466; ; N. Pons, Botticelli. Catalogo completo, Milan 1989, p. 73, no. 67; ; N. Pons, Dagli eredi di Giotto al primo Cinquecento, Florence 2007, pp. 138–47 (as Botticelli and studio).

Provenance:

James Mann, Castle Craig, Perthshire, by 1907; ; With Dowdeswell, London;&nbsp; ; Acquired from the above by Eduard Simon, Berlin, by 1914; ; His sale, Berlin, Cassirer and Helbing, 10 and 11 October 1929, lot 5; ; Purchased at the above by Martin Schwersenz; ; Bruno Spiro (<em>d</em>. 1936), Hamburg; ; By inheritance to his wife Ellen Spiro (<em>d</em>. 1977), later Ellen Austin, Hamburg and London; ; Acquired from the above by P. &amp; D. Colnaghi, London, 1955; ; Acquired from the above by Sir Thomas Barlow CBE, 1955; ; With Simon Dickinson, London; ; With Moretti Gallery; ; Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2007.