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Seller's Notes:Northern Europe Old Master between 1630 and 1750 C.E. In need of minor restoration near the top Unknown artist – follower of Daniel Seghers or School of Giorgione (Zorzo) da Castel – Giovanni Stanchi perhaps. Painting is not signed. The image is during the pre-dawn light, the Virgin Mary is lifting a cover the baby Jesus in the center of the painting. Surrounding them are shepherds in adoration and doves nearby. In the right background is a stable with steps leading up to it with a straw roofing. The Virgin Mary is wearing a red robe with a long white head cover. The whole scene is surrounded by roses and green leaves. With frame, Height 33”, Width 28.1. Without frame, Height 28.12” (71.5cm), Width 24.12” (61.2 cm) Please note that the painting has a small blistered 2.5-inch crack near the top right corner. In 2001 a top figure from the Appraisers Association of America appraised it at $8,000-$10,000. Mid-17th Century Franco-Flemish regarding the nativity and garland sections was his assessment. In 2005 Masterson Gurr Johns Inc appraised it at $6,000 fair market value. Modeled on Flemish prototypes of the early 17th century an Jan Breughel, Jan van Balen or Rubens, the present painting is Italian, the flowers possibly from the circle of the Roman painter Abraham Breughel (1631-1680). As was customary at the time, the figures are probably by another hand. Sotheby’s in Amsterdam offered between 7,000-9,000 Euros for it in 2005. But shipping would have been cost prohibited. The frame is new, but the painting itself is at least 350 years old, and perhaps a lot older. We are selling below the fair market and appraised value to modernize and spring-clean our house. The paining was restored in the 1990s by Victor E. Grace of Grace Galleries, Brunswick ME. He was a fellow the American Institute of the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works of Art. He was a past member of the American Association of Conservators and Restorers. This is part of a collection of paintings that originate in Florence from a family close to the Medicis, later they moved to Genova where a documented transfer took place in 1852. They came into the family as a collateral for a large loan to the former Genovese family. A copy of the provenance from the Italian with English translation is available. Included documentation of the forensic/scientific dating is part of the package. Forensically Analyzed by McCrone Associates in Westmont Illinois. X-ray imaging was made. Small samples of paint were taken with a fine-point tungsten needle in non-restored areas. The samples were mounted onto glass microscope slides for polarized light microscopy (PLM) analysis and onto a beryllium planchet for energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) on the scanning electron microscope (SEM). A portion was also mounted onto a potassium bromide substrate for infrared spectroscopy analysis (IR) of the mediums. Fractions were treated separately with phenol and orthodichlorobenzene (ODCM) in order to separate the medium material from the pigments. The presence of Naples yellow, ground lapis lazuli and other pigments means that this painting is most likely created between 1630 and 1750. The ground layer of ground limestone or whiting is consistent with Northern European as opposed to Italian art. Will include the following: Forensic reports from McCrone Associates Reports and images of the final restoration by Victor Grace Appraisers’ notes Copy of the provenance from the Italian with English translation I inherited this enigmatic work of art. Shipping is free, but if you are within 60 miles of the NYC area, I will personally deliver the artwork along with all the documentation. All part of a set, from an old European family

Brand: Vintage/Antique