Attributed to Charles Victoire Moench (French 1787-1867) Vertumnus & Pomona, oil on panel, measurements 83 x 67 cm, frame 102 x 85 cm.

Label verso: for Arnold Wiggins and Sons picture framers and a wax seal verso bottom. Provenance: previously sold at Christies Old Master Pictures, London, July 2000, Lot 179

The tale of Vertumnus and Pomona is taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Vertumnus is a god of the seasons, gardens and fruit trees who was enamoured with Pomona, a beautiful wood nymph who dedicated herself to cultivating her orchard and rejecting all potential suitors. He disguised himself as an old woman in order to gain entry to Pomona's orchard and sought to convince her to choose the youthful and handsome deity Vertumnus. He then transforms and reveals himself in his true form to woo her.

Please note there is an additional 20% chargeable on the hammer price for this lot

Provenance: previously sold at Christies Old Master Pictures in London, July 2000, lot 179

Condition Report

The painting is basically in sound condition

That said the panel has been cradled on the reverse, and has been subject to signifiacnt cleaning and restoration in the past.It has surface in-painting in various areas of the panel most notably in the tree foliage area ; towards the edges of the painting ;, and in an area towards the left handside of the tree canopy around the the top of the tree trunk on the left hand side of the painting..There are two surface cracks obviously visible , one a vertical surface crack around 20cm in length in the upper cenrte of the tree canopy; and another vertical surface crack towards the top right corner around 15.3cm , there are other less obvious surface fractures in other areas of the panel which also appear to have been restored in the past

Bidding indicates acceptance of the condition of the lot.  All lots are sold subject to general wear and tear commensurate with age and handling over time and only obvious faults will be mentioned after a visual inspection. If you have particular specialist questions on any lot, please state these before bidding since we cannot and will not provide a forensic examination of any lot but only a general condition report as a guide only. All condition reports given by Halls Holdings Ltd's representatives or agents are statements of opinion and not fact. If you require any further information about any lots in this auction or about bidding please do not hesitate to contact us again.