Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony

optical assessment and radial/tangential section examined employing transmitted light microscopy

[Christoph Schmidt, Gemäldegalerie Berlin; Feb. 2015]

Pigment identification employing X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy [see attached pdf]

At all the points measured lead was detected (probably a lead based pigment in the ground or the imprimatura).

Blue: 1, 7 (background): copper based pigment (probably azurite), lead white

Red: 3, 4 (flesh paint: cheeks ; lips): some vermilion, lead white

Brown: 5, 6 (fur): probably ochre, lead white, some vermilion

Black: 2, 8, 9 (hat; signature, coat) probably carbon black

[Jens Bartoll/SPSG Berlin, Feb. 2015]

Limewood

The support has been thinned and consists of two vertically joined boards with the following dimensions (from left to right):

Plank 1: 9.7 cm (top); 10 cm (bottom)

Plank 2: 16.2 cm (top); 16 cm (bottom)

The x-radiograph shows that the panel was cover with tow (in a horizontal direction).

The ground application is a pale white chalk admixture that extends to the edges of the panel at the left and right as well as the bottom. The top and bottom edges may have been trimmed slightly. At the top left a barb and incised line is visible. Amounts of lead detected across the entire painting using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy suggest the presence of an imprimatura containing lead white. Another imprimatura is not visible.

Lines are visible on the mouth/lips, the hair, the hands, left of the beret - possibly a freehand drawing or traced from a pre-existing design; the painted version deviates slightly from the underdrawing (corrections were made to the hands).

PIGMENTS: (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy)

At all the points measured lead was detected (probably a lead based pigment in the ground or the imprimatura).

Blue: 1, 7 (background): copper based pigment (probably azurite), lead white

Red: 3, 4 (flesh paint: cheeks ; lips): some vermilion, lead white

Brown: 5, 6 (fur): probably ochre, lead white, some vermilion

Black: 2, 8, 9 (hat; signature, coat) probably carbon black

The painting has a white ground. The sequence of paint application began with the background, followed by the areas of black paint and finally the flesh paint - the hands and the face. In the background the paint was applied rapidly and for the the most part vertically with a larger brush. It appears streaky with impasto brushstrokes and the underlying ground is occasionally visible. Modelling was achieved through the application of highlights and glazes in the shadows over a midtone. Particular striking is the texture in the beard that extends in the opposite direction over the neighbouring section, in this case from the dark clothing to the face. It would appear that linear shapes were painted from the black paint areas into the face and contrary to the usual workshop practice light beard hairs were then painted into the black paint. A compact application of glazes was employed to achieve the texture of the fur. The present varnish is not original.

Not original frame

Profiled batten with a cove, dark stained wood

62.5 cm x 47.5 cm x 8 cm (glazed)

Support:

The reverse of the panel was thinned and a cradle was applied (2 cm thick including cradle). The top and bottom edges may have been trimmed slightly. The right plank exhibits deformations in the lower area. There are splits in the panel: some splits caused by tension, and a split extending from the top to the bottom of the panel is visible in the area of the join.

Paint Layers:

A network of cracks with distinct single lines extends over the entire painting. In general the the paint layers exhibit a more widespread common cupping. This feature was probably caused by the tow appplied to the support beneath the paint and ground layers. glazes are very well preserved. There are isolated paint losses (particularly near the edges of the panel) and retouches spread across the painting.

The present varnish is not original.

After purchase in 1993 the very yellowed varnish and the discoloured retouches were removed. There is no documentation available regarding earlier interventions.