The Ill-Matched Couple: Old Man and Young Woman

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and pointed brush?

Type/Ductus:

- copied lines

- thin to broader lines

- occasional hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the essential details and the facial features; occasional hatching-strokes serve the representation of volume

Deviations:

- alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible; could be workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- the design may have been transferred from a pre-existing design?

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2014]

- the panel consists of 2 beech wood planks (as far as can be inferred), aligned vertically with widths of 27 (l.) and 31 (r.) cm (recto)

- no rebate

- battens of coniferous wood were added to either side with widths of 2 (l.) und 3.5 cm (r.) (recto)

- cradle made of coniferous wood

- thin white ground

- high quality execution

- thin but opaque paint application with little impasto

- coat: brocade simple but effective achieved by juxtaposing coloured and black areas of paint, in contrast the fur-trimming was acheived witha a more nuanced application of shades.

- the pearls on the bonnet and bib are applied as simple grey and white dots

- the texture of the golden cloth was achieved with very filigrain yellow lines on a ochre coloured ground

[Herrschaft, cda 2014]

• a network of craquelée extends over the entire painted surface

• some retouches, particularly along the join