PROPERTY OF AN EAST COAST INSTITUTION. CHILDE HASSAM (American, 1859-1935). Oyster Sloop, Cos Cob, 1902. Oil on canvas...

Condition Report*: The following condition report was completed by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting is unlined and stretched on its original stretcher. The tacking edges have been reinforced to allow for safe stretching. The original stamp and date on the reverse are clearly visible. The paint layer is stable and although the restoration that has been applied is not the most focused retouching, the picture could be hung in its current condition. At some point in the picture's 109 year history, the canvas was subjected to atmospheric conditions which brought about quite severe paint loss. While there are no structural damages to the canvas, the paint layer itself suffered quite seriously. As a result, there seem to be broad retouchings throughout the sky and in many areas throughout the remainder of the composition. This is further complicated by the fact that Hassam's pictures do traditionally fluoresce very strongly under ultraviolet light. However, under ultraviolet examination of this painting two different kinds of fluorescent pigment - one is very deep purple and the other is a more brownish purple - both seem, in great part, to correspond to restoration. Bearing this in mind we can see that almost the entire sky and the chimney-stack are repainted. The boat, the shoreline in the foreground and much of the remainder of the landscape all show fairly broad restorations as well. This is not to say that the restorations are well applied, and it is not to say that they are not exaggerated and applied in areas which are not damaged. If these retouches are removed and the picture is re-restored in a more focused and diligent fashion, the painting itself will certainly look considerably better, however it will still show fairly significant restorations in many areas.