The Virgin breast-feeding the Child

The size of the beech panel differs only slightly from the standard size format ‘C’ (51-59 cm x 34-40 cm) which was the preferred in the workshop from about 1520-1535. This might give some indication that the panel was trimmed slightly at the left or right edge(s)[Heydenreich, unpublished report 04.07.2001]

Interpretetation of results in Jägers report by Gunnar Heydenreich:

Sample 1a:

White ground layer contains calcium carbonate and animal glue

Red paint layer contains finely ground red iron oxide pigment (red ochre) and traces of red lead, bound mainly in oil

Varnish on the basis of triterpenoids like dammar or mastic

The composition of the ground and the red paint layer can also be found in other paintings of the Cranach workshop. The varnish has on the contrary most likely been renewed.

Sample 1b:

White ground layer contains calcium carbonate and animal glue

Very thin red paint layer covered by a grayish-black layer, contains red iron oxide pigment (red ochre), traces of red lead and carbon black of fine particle size.

The composition of ground and paint layers can also be found in other paintings of the Cranach workshop.

[Heydenreich, unpublished report, 04.07.2001]

Cross-sections examined employing microchemical tests, IR-spectroscopy, SEM and EDX

Sample 1a:

Layer sequence of the sample (from the bottom up):

White: compact pure white, granular ground layer, calcium carbonate bound in a medium containing protein, glue

Red: thin dark red broken layer. Very fine red pigment particles. Identified as an admixture of red iron oxide with a small percentage of siliceous material (red ochre) and small amounts of vermilion. The layer is bound mainly in oil. The small quantity of binding medium present prevents a more precise conclusion.

Varnish: yellow coloured brittle layer. The varnish exhibits a strong white fluorescence in UV light. Analysis with IR-spectroscopy identified a natural resin on the basis of triterpenoids like dammar or mastix

Sample 1b:

White: compact pure white ground layer. On the underside of the cross-section remnants of a yellowish transparent binding medium are visible. The layer is impregnated with a yellowish transparent medium, with a clearly evident concentration of medium at the surface.

Calcium carbonate bound in a medium containing protein, glue. The concentration of medium both at the top and bottom were also identified as glue

Black: islands of a very thin black layer. The cross-section shows two paint layers: a greyish-black rather diffuse admixture over a thin red layer. Red ochre, small quantities of vermilion as well as fine particles of carbon black pigment were identified, bound in an essentially oil medium (the exact relation of the medium could not be established.)

[Report, Elizabeth Jägers, Erhard Jägers, 25.04.2001]

Beech wood

[Klein Report, 11.05.2000]

• the panel appears not only to have been trimmed, but also to have been thinned (see open worm channels).

• numerous wooden inserts have been added at some stage to reinforce the panel.

[cda 2015]