Follower of Francesco Giambattista da Ponte, called Francesco Bassano (Bassano 1549-1592 Venice)
Summer; Autumn; and Winter
three of a set, oil on panel
45.6 x 57.6cm (17 15/16 x 22 11/16in)., 46.2 x 57.6cm (18 3/16 x 22 11/16in) and 45.6 x 57.6cm (17 15/16 x 22 11/16in). (3)
Footnotes:
The allegories of Summer and Autumn are based on Francesco Bassano's originals, now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. The winter scene is loosely based on a Francesco Bassano that was offered at Christie's, London 28 May 1982, lot 104.

Summer
The panel, which is bevelled on all 4 sides, is held on the reverse by two strips of tape. There are numerous losses (most of which are visible in the photograph). The varnish is dirty and scuffed. There is abrasion and a few fine splits visible to the edge of the panel, where the frame has rubbed. Discoloured retouching is visible to the naked eye to the sky, figures and animals. In strong light it is possible to see some discoloured infilling to the craquelure, particularly in areas that correlate to the tape on the reverse. Inspection under UV light is hindered by the thick varnish but it is still possible to see: scattered retouchings and small areas of restoration throughout; infilling and lines of restoration correlating to the 2 pieces of tape on the reverse, particularly in the lower section; and strengthening to the architecture. Further restoration should not be excluded.

Autumn
The panel is bevelled on the horizontal edges. The varnish is dirty and scuffed. There are losses to the paint surface, mostly in the upper section of the panel. Discoloured infilling can be seen in strong light to fine splits and the craqulure. The paint surface is a little thin in the darker pigments.
Inspection under UV light is hindered by thick varnish but it is still possible to see: infilling to the losses, upper section; and a little retouching to the foreground, lower right and behind cattle, lower centre. Further restoration should not be excluded.

Winter
The panel is bevelled on all 4 sides. The varnish is dirty and discoloured. There is minor abrasion around the edge of the panel, where the frame has rubbed. There is a fine split forming, centre right. In strong light it is possible to see some small areas of infilling scattered.
Restoration is visible to the roof of the outbuilding.
Inspection under UV light is hindered by thick varnish but it is still possible to see: the aforementioned restoration, together with strengthening, to the outbuilding, upper right; strengthening and retouching to the foliage, upper left, upper centre and lower right; retouching to the hill; and scattered retouchings to the figures and foreground. Further restoration should not be excluded.

Unexamined out of frames.