Lot 15: CARL LARSSON | The Letter

oil on panel

45 by 54cm., 17¾ by 21¼in.

oil on panel

The following condition report has been provided by Hamish Dewar Ltd, 13 & 14 Mason's Yard, London SW1Y 6BU: UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE Structural Condition The artist's panel is providing an even and stable structural support. There are two old exhibition labels adhered to the reverse of the panel. Paint surface The paint surface has even varnish layer. There are a few tiny paint losses on the right vertical framing edge and in the four extreme corners of the composition. The paint surface has a few areas of fine lines of craquelure, including within the chest of drawers in the lower left and within the walls and the window in the upper half of the composition. These are all entirely stable and are not visually distracting. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows a few spots of retouching on the left part of the upper horizontal edge, and some carefully applied fine lines of retouching covering craquelure within the window and the curtain in the upper centre of the composition. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition and could benefit from the infilling and retouching of any tiny paint losses.
"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."

Stockholm, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Carl Larssons minnesutställning på Liljevalchs Konsthall, 1920, no. 46
Stockholm, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Carl Larsson - 100 år minnesutställning på Liljevalchs Konsthall, 1953, no. 64
London, Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox, Interiors, 1981, no. 9
New York, Brooklyn Museum, Carl Larsson, 1982-83, no. 5
New York, Wheelock Whitney & Co., Another Vision, May 1985, no.16
London, Victoria & Albert Museum, Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of Swedish Style, 1997-98, no. 118, illustrated in the catalogue

Ulwa Neergaard, Carl Larsson: signerat med pensel och penna, Stockholm, 1999, vol. I, p. 76, illustrated; vol. II, p. 27, no. 227, catalogued

Ingrid Löfgren, Djursholm
Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox, London (by 1981)
Wheelock Whitney, Minneapolis (by 1985)
Sale: Sotheby's, London, 27 March 1990, lot 32
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner