Christ and the Good Samaritan at the Well

- initial paint layer carried out in grisaille and then subsequently modulated in colour

- the original frame has not been preserved

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

- canvas (84 cm x 171 cm), plain weave, 19 – 20 threads per cm², no visible knots

- the warp yarn runs horizontally, the weft yarn runs vertically and are more distorted (prominant cusping)

Incident light microscopy; UV Fluorescence; Staining tests; EDX:

Cross-section No.: EP 088

Brief description of paint: greenish grey ground

Sample location: bottom left corner

Sample No.: 112

Date: 1552 (about)

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV Fluorescence: yes

Staining test for protein: yes with Fast Green: negative result

Staining test photograph: no

Observations:

5. yellowish and transparent layer of overpaint

4. grey layer with black, red and blue pigments

3. white interlayer?

2. whitish-yellowish semi-transparent layer containing grains of starch (staining test with a potassium iodide solution) and a white extender (Calcium carbonate?), does not fluoresce in UV light: a whitish preparatory layer which fills the pores (bound with paste)

1. thin semi-transparent layer, not pigmented: paste under the preparatory layer, black grains of starch were visible after it had been stained with a potassium iodide solution

0- canvas

Commentary:

The canvas has been impregnated with a layer of paste over which a preparatory layer with a white extender and also containing starch was applied, filling the pores. Above this there is a white or grey underpaint and the green paint layer.

Cross-section No.: EP 089

Brief description of paint: Christ’s red robe

Sample location: Christ’s red robe, left on the sleeve

Sample No.: 113

Date: 1552 (about)

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV Fluorescence: yes

EDX: yes

Observations:

6. varnish

5. pale red layer, appears yellowish in UV, splintery inclusions not fluorescing in UV [EDX: Si!!, Co, Fe, K, As? – red lake glaze and smalt]

4. intenser red layer, splintery inclusions, fluorescing red in UV [EDX: Al!!, Pb, K, Ca, Si red lake glaze on an aluminiumhydroxid substrate?]

3. yellowish glassy indifferent layer, fluorescing yellowish in UV: interlayer

2. light grey layer, black and white pigments: grisaille underpaint EDX: Ca!!, Pb? – chalk and some lead white?

1. whitish semi-transparent layer: preparatory layer, containing starch (stained with a potassium iodide solution), greater proportion of starch towards the bottom EDX: Ca!!, Pb? – chalk and some lead white?

0. remnants of canvas

Commentary:

There is a layer of starch paste on the canvas, over which starch paste containing an extender was applied. A grisaille underpaint followed, then an interlayer of medium and subsequently an intense red lake layer modulated with a slightly less intense red lake (clearly two different red lakes)

Support:

• the original tacking margins have not been preserved

• a strip of canvas c. 4 cm wide was attached at a later stage along the top edge (original reserved canvas 84 x 171 cm), and presumably replaces an area now lost

• there is a horizontal tear approx. 171 cm long (c. 69 cm from the bottom of the image)

• a vertical tear approx. 73 cm long (from the bottom edge, c. 32-40 cm from the left)

• two canvas inserts: c. 4 x 4 cm shaped like a rhombus (in an area 37.5 cm from the top, 84.5 cm from the left), below this there is a further insert c. 5.5 x 4 cm with an irregular shape

• the original canvas has three linings

Painted surface:

• the surface is visibly worn, there is paint loss particularly where the threads cross

[Heydenreich, unpublished report, 1994]

Conservation treatment by Dr. Brachert, Nuremberg:

• overpaint removed, losses retouched, the tonality of the addition was lightened with retouches

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 1994]

• the strip of canvas (4 cm wide) at the top was added after 1906 (see Katalog der Sammlung Oppolzer, 1906)

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 1994]