Paul Weber (German, 1823–1916) Gathering Flowers Near the Susquehanna

Signed and dated 'Paul Weber/1852' bottom left, oil on canvas both painted and framed in the oval
35 1/2 x 32 5/8 in. (90.2 x 82.9cm)

Provenance

Sotheby's Arcade, sale of September 30, 1997, lot 65.
Kenneth Lux Gallery, New York, New York.
Private Dealer, New York.
Brock & Co., Concord, Massachusetts.
Acquired directly from the above in 2005 (as On the Susquehana River).
Collection of Dr. Douglas S. Holsclaw, Jr., Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Frame: 42 x 39 x 2 1/2 in.

The wax-lined canvas in overall good condition, with very thin and flat stabilized craquelure visible at times. Examination under UV light reveals a thick layer of old greenish varnish throughout. With broad inpainting at upper left, bottom left and bottom right corners (those covered by the frame, and most likely broader than needs to be). With minor, localized and precise inpainting at upper center, and upper right along the inner circle. Pinpoint-size dots of inpainting in the foliage at upper left and upper right. Thin (left) outline of the second tree to the right has been carefully inpainted. Older restoration visible in the river at bottom center, bottom center right (the fluorescent lily pads seem to be due to the pigments rather than restoration itself). Another area of older retouching at bottom right/bottom center right in the faraway woods under the leaves. See specialist's pictures for more details.