Frederick Stuart Church (American, 1842–1924) The Polar Bear Dance

Signed, inscribed and dated 'F.S. Church/From.Heim.Far-Hills/New Jersey/1915' bottom right, oil on canvas
33 x 51 in. (83.8 x 129.5cm)

Provenance

Private Collection, New York, New York.
Estate Sale, New York, sale of August 9th, 1944.
Acquired directly from the above sale.
Meredith Galleries, New York, New York.
Acquired directly from the above.
Private Collection, Brooklyn, New York.
By descent in the family.
Private Collection, Pennsylvania.

Condition report:

Frame: 37 x 55 x 1 1/2 in.

In overall fair to good condition, with faint hairline craquelure running vertically throughout the canvas. We notice some craquelure webs at times as well, for example at upper right corner. With light flaking on the main bear's face. The canvas would benefit from a light cleaning, judging from the yellowish smears in some parts of the canvas (from the old varnish, most likely). Examination under UV light does not reveal any sign of inpainting. With a small flake at center right (on one of the bears), slight abrasions along the outer edges, including the top outer edge, where we notice three pinpoint holes at upper right.