Johann Cornelius Mertz
(Dutch, 1819-1891)
Playtime with baby, 1855
oil on panel
signed lower right J C Mertz and dated, with applied wax seal to back of board
22 x 16 3/4in (56 x 43cm)
Provenance:
Property from a Private Collector, Laguna Hills, California.

Framed 32 x 27 1/2in. Surface darkened overall. Crazing and yellowing to varnish. With a nick to center just below skirt of seated woman on right. With a number of other shallower abrasions around center of image. Appears to be mostly to varnish. Scrapes to edges of panel. Signature darkened and rather faint. With applied wax seal to back of board as stated. Faint chalk inscription. There are a few small pea-sized areas of paint loss in the upper section (in and around the painting on the wall), and the lower center section (in the hem of the seated womans yellow dress). There are scratches along the upper left edge and upper left corner, the largest measures approximately 3 inches. There is a vertical split in the panel measuring approximately 5 inches. There is frame abrasion along the edges. Notable abrasion across face of seated figure in foreground as visible in catalogue photos. There is crazing throughout. There appears to be no evidence of restoration when viewed under UV light.