St Mary Cleophas with Alphaeus and St Mary Salomas with Zebedee [combined wings of a triptych]

DESCRIPTION

- the panel is comprised of two inner wing panels; two arches are visible at the top right and left

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium; brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand detailed underdrawing

- thin lines

- occasional hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the contours of the figures and indicate facial features and details; representation of volume with occasional hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- adjustments were made during the painting process; changes (e. g. the position and pose of the two infant apostles James the Younger and Simon Zelote in the foreground at the left; a bowl and a saw (both attributes of Simon Zelote) were indicated in the underdrawing; in the faces and hands of Friedrich III. and Johann I. ).

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich cda 2014]

- the panel consists of the inner side of two wing panels, which have been joined together

- both wings were probably only slightly trimmed and joined together without the addition of a central strip (as had previously been assumed)

- the panels each consist of a single oak wood plank

- the surface is completely covered with a textile application

- a number of ground layers, probably a glue/chalk mixture

- relatively thick and completely covering the textile application on the wooden support

- it would appear that in part arched, curved (relief) applications were attached along the edges of the panels closest to the central panel, as well as the upper edges; these were removed when the panels were joined together and replaced with ground and paint layers

- underdrawing throughout and in part incised lines

- the composition was fixed with thin lines, probably with a brush a water-based ink

- in areas later gilded incised lines are visible along underdawing

- the position and pose of the young apostles James the Younger and Simon Zelote at the left in the foreground were changed in the painted version, furthermore a bowl and saw (the attributes of Simon Zelote) were included in the underdrawing, but were not executed in paint

- more deviations are visible in the faces and hands of the portraits of Friedrich III. and Johann I.

- gilding in the area of the women's robes

[Schaefer, Saint-George 2003, 29-31]