Portrait of a Jurist

Identification of wood species: Spruce (Picea sp.)

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid black pigmented medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing; fine brushstrokes with a diluted medium are followed by darker lines, which serve to clearly define forms; occasional hatching strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the broader lines are used to delineate shapes, forms and spaces; thinner lines are used primarily to describe the features of the face, the hair and the town and landscape in the background; some representation of volume (hatching-strokes)

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painted version to clearly define forms particularly in the landscape and the head attire

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

- the original dimensions of the panel were c. 54 x 40 cm

[Heydenreich 2007 A, 55]

- spruce (Picea sp.)

- the panel consists of a single plank

- the panel has been reduced to a thickness of 0.4-0.6 cm

- there is a large wooden insert on the top left (3.2 x 4 cm), which is covered with tow; further knots have been left untreated

- executed with a paint brush

- the left eye was carried out with numerous broad strokes

- the shadow of the right cheek was achieved employing decending cross-hatching

- single wafting hairs on the left side of the face have not been executed in paint, similarly some small details in the landscape were not used

- the red paint of the hood and cap was dabbed on to imitate the soft fabric

- drying cracks occurred before the shadow was created with a red lake glaze

- the rings and buttons are matt gilded and covered with a brown glaze. The precious stones on the rings are achieved by painting red, blue and pink glazes over gilding

- the mordent used for the gilded inscription and the date is light yellow

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 123]

Examination of a paint cross-section; Incident light microscopy; UV light microscopy:

Cross section No.: EP 065

Brief description of the paint : blue sky

Sampling location: right edge, c. 5mm from the top edge, blue sky

Sample No.: 065

Date: 1503

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV light microscopy: yes

Observations:

3. transparent layer: varnish, not original, fluoresces strong in UV light

2. light blue layer: azurite and white, sky paint

1. grey layer: warm grey (white, vegetable black, brown transparent lumps, 2 red pigment particles; underpainting

0. white layer: layer becoming yelowish and more transparent towards the top; Ground

Comment: a pigmented Imprimitura is lacking. The ground is presumably isolated with a layer of oil.

[Heydenreich 1995, unpublished examination report]

Support:

• the panel exhibits old, but extensive wood worm damage

• a split runs through the centre of the panel

• the sides of the panel have been trimmed

Reverse:

• cradled

Painted surface:

• there are splits in the ground and paint layers at the top and bottom of the panel

• there are losses in the paint layers around the edge of the knots

• the bottom and right edges have been reinforced with black paint

• the dark red glazes on the robe and the dark green glazes on the leaves of the trees have become brown

• the gold is slightly abraded

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 123]

Revarnished

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 123]