Large Old Master oil on canvas painting depicting a butcher in his shop surrounded by meats and tools of his trade, likely northern Italian circa 16th-17th century.

Provenance: Holzerman's, Minneapolis, MN; Collection of Tom Sewell; Collection of Dudley Riggs, Minneapolis, MN.
Unframed; height: 56 in x width: 91 in. Framed; height: 67 in x width: 81 1/2 in.

The painting was conserved most recently in 1996; please see the documents in the lot listing photographs for details on the work done in that treatment. The painting has been relined and re-stretched. The varnish is discolored, making finer details difficult to see. There is extensive craquelure and stretcher bar marks along the perimeter of the work. There is cupping throughout that appears to have been treated, the surface is currently stable. When examined under UV light there are numerous areas of inpainting. The most extensive areas of inpainting are: the area surrounding the delftware jug, the background in between the man and the severed cow head, along the edges, and on and around the man's face. There's also evidence of restoration and inpainting vertically through the center of the work; possibly from a previous stretcher. There is also a horizontal line running between the length of the work about nine inches from the bottom. It is possible that the work was folded in the past, causing this crack. There is wear to the frame including: small losses, worm holes, and drill holes. The painting has been reinforced within the frame with thirteen pieces of wood, please see photographs of the verso.