ARTIST UNKNOWN (19TH CENTURY) PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN. Oil on canvas. Unsigned. Stretched, but not framed Canvas: 50" x 39.5"

This piece has light overall grime build up. There appears to be significant restoration to the painting. There is crackle to the paint from age, it appears to have been heated to stabilize the crackle causing impasto crushing. On the back of the canvas there are several 1" x 1" and 1" x 2" linen patches. Under black light this piece has a heavy varnish layer masking restoration. There are over a dozen .5" - 3" diameter areas of over-painting scattered through out the surface. There is painting loss to the edge of the painting where a previous frame appears to have worn down the surface. There is some light blanching to the paint on the edge. There is a faint white pigment scuff running across the figure's chest.