‘Portrait of Richard Fox’ (artist unknown, after Hans Corvus; 16th Century, oil on panel)
Owner: Touchstones, Rochdale Art Gallery
Condition: The painting consisted of two panels which had separated along the central join. The surfaces of both panels were covered in a thick deposit of surface dirt and dust, and an uneven yellowed varnish layer, and numerous areas of discoloured retouching. The paint layer contained a number of paint losses, and areas of the background and sitter’s clothing had been abraded. The panels were very dirty on the reverse, and the outer edges contained a number of chips and dents.