A finely dressed young Lady

Identification of wood species: limewood (Tilia sp.)

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

-fluid black pigmented medium, pointed brush; dry medium (dark chalk ?)

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- thin lines (fluid medium) combined with broader lines; occasional delicate, fine lines (dry medium)

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; delicate lines describe the essential facial features and are reinforce with thin lines, these also sketchily indicate the details in the landscape; broader lines are employed in the drapery and the headdress; some representation of volume in the face ?

Deviations:

- only minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form; changes can been seen in the woman’s bodice

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger ?

Comments:

- possibly with reference to a pre-existing sketch or transferred from a pre-existing design (facial features)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

- limewood (Tilia sp.)

- 4 boards, widths from the left: top: 14.9, 13.5, 18.3, 13.1, bottom: 13.9, 14.3, 17.7, 13.8 cm

- thickness: 1.1-1.4 cm

- the knots were left in the wood

- the panel was cropped considerably at the bottom

Reverse:

- there is a rebate along the side and top edges of the panel

- the central join was originally reinforced with a dovetail insert, here there are also remains of old canvas

- the ground and paint was applied to the panel in the frame

- executed with a brush

- the contours and lines within the forms are indicated: there are floral ornaments above the diamond pattern in the area of the breast bib, which correspond with the prototype in Budapest

- ornamental lines have been cursory scratched (Sgraffitto) into the wet paint of the lace on the shoulder

- areas of the chain were arbitrarily underpainted with a reddish brown, the shape of the individual links was then worked up in light and shade, the areas between were subsequently made lighter

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 144]

Support:

• minimal amount of old wood worm damage

• the panel had a corrugated appearance until 1977, after which ime it was returned to plane

• the joins were reglued (1983)

• today it exhibits an extreme convex warp

• the panel has been cropped considerably along the bottom edge

Reverse:

• the central join was originally reinforced with a dovetail insert

• the remaining joins were reinforced with wooden blocks

• splits near the cenral join have been reinforced with disks of oak wood

• two large wooden blocks have been removed at the top left

Painted surface:

• the outer contours of the chain are abraded

• the painting has been overcleaned in some of the lighter areas

• the eyebrows have been reconstructed

• there are small losses and reconstructed areas across the entire painting

• the paint from the window frame has partially been removed

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 144]

• the joins were reglued and the panel was put in a climatically contolled chamber

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 144]

• the panel was returned to plane

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 144]