Martin Luther

- beech wood; three vertically aligned and buttjoined planks. Plank I:: 5-7.6 cm; plank II: 21.1-17.6 cm; plank III: 23.5-24.7 cm; the panel is chamfered on all four sides; both joints were covered with tow

- Dendrochronology: the following annual rings were measured: plank I: 46 annual rings, 1531-1486; plank II: 88 annual rings, no date available; plank III: 86 annual rings, 1536-1451. The youngest annual ring is from 1536. Generally with beech wood the entire section is used and only the bark is removed, therefore a felling date of 1536 can be estimated. The wood was seasoned for a further two years before use (Klein 2016).

- chalk ground

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 178]

Identification of wood species: beech wood

Dendrochronology: plank I 46 annual rings 1531 - 1486; plank II 88 annual rings no dating possible; Brett III 86 annual rings 1536 - 1451

The youngest annual ring is from 1536

[Klein report 03.03.2016]

Support:

• at the top edge between the 2nd and 3rd planks there is a misalignment of c. 0.2 cm; the tow covering the joint between these planks was reduced when the joint was reinforced with seven oak wood blocks. The joint was probably open at some stage. The planks subsequently warped differently in the horizontal direction, at some stage the reverse was reinforced with wooden blocks. Splits were reinforced with tow. The area around the joints exhibits recent plane marks and open woodworm channels, marks from a block plane run across the grain. The reverse has a dark brown coating.

Paint layers:

• there are fills and retouches along the joint between the 2nd and 3rd planks

Varnish:

• the painting has a glossy resin varnish, which was probably applied repeatedly with a brush. The strong fluorescence of this layer restricts the identification of retouches under UV light to a few relatively new ones.

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 178]

Treatment carried out in the studios of the Doerner-Institute, Bavarian State Collections (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen), Munich

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 178]