Bidspirit auction | Important Large Continental School Oil

Important Large Continental School Oil on Canvas After Cristofano Allori, Judith with the Head of - Important large Continental School oil on canvas, likely 18th century, after Cristofano Allori, depicting Judith with the Head of Holofernes. The dramatic Old Master composition shows Judith richly dressed in golden robes, holding a sword in one hand and the severed head of Holofernes in the other, with her attendant appearing in the background. Housed in a giltwood frame. Accompanied by 2011 Hudson + Salah Art Conservation Studios documentation showing a major conservation campaign, including removal of discolored varnish and old overpaint, cleaning, lining onto pure Belgian linen with BEVA 371 adhesive, restretching onto a new custom stretcher, inpainting, and varnishing. Conservation photographs show that the veiled attendant figure in the upper right was revealed after removal of heavy overpaint. The documentation also includes pre-conservation verso photographs with an indistinct old inscription. Provenance: Ormonde Plantation, Natchez, Mississippi. Canvas 55 3/4 in. high x 44 3/4 in. wide; frame 65 in. high x 54 in. wide. Condition: Professionally conserved in 2011. Painting has been lined, cleaned, restretched, inpainted, and varnished. Surface with craquelure, visible texture, scattered restoration, and areas of inpainting consistent with age and conservation history. Frame with minor rubbing and wear. Accompanied by conservation documentation and related paperwork.