Portrait of a Bride

Identification of wood species: limewood (Tilia sp.)

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry medium (black chalk?)

Type/Ductus:

- linear underdrawing; freehand underdrawing or traced?

- thin lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; delineating contours and generally describing the essential details of the face; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

- lime wood (Tilia sp)

- single plank

- 0.5-0.9 cm thick

- the panel has been minimally trimmed along the top edge and by at least the width of the bevel (4-5cm) along the bottom

Reverse:

- the edge is bevelled at the side and the top

- the panel was framed during the ground appplication and painting process

- the edge of the ground and the painted surface is present at both the top and the bottom of the panel

- ground: thin, light red, applied horizontally

- the underdrawing was executed with a pen

- the contours and the main lines within the shapes are indicated

- the shape of the right upper arm is described with numerous looped lines

- the boarder of the dress and the blouse, the belt, the neckband and the headband are oil gilded

- highlights are thinly applied with white paint

- the depiction of the Virgin and the Unicorn on the bib is drawn in black with highlights in white

- the grass is painted with a green glaze

- the early, but not original gold inscription 'Magdalena von Büritz' has an impasto reddish brown underpaint

- the later inscription bearing the sitter's age and date is executed in lead tin yellow

- the coat of arms was executed at this time

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 160]

Examination of cross-ssections; Incident light microscopy; UV microscopy; EDX:

Cross-section No.: EP 078

Brief description of paint: yellow and black paint from the foliage on the coat of arms

Sample location: Foliage to the left of the shield

Sample No.: 109

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV microscopy: yes

EDX: yes

Observations:

3. Yellow layer without glassy inclusions - EDX: Pb, Sn ie. lead tin yellow employed to decorate the shield

2. Green layer: applied in two layers with blue pigments, discoloured green (Overpaint of the background)

1. Transparent dark layer: varnish

0. Light blue layer: blue crystalline pigment particles, white pigment particles (original background colour) Ground missing

Cross-section No.: EP 071

Brief description of paint: gilding with black drawing

Sample location: bottom edge of the panel, belt, gilding with black drawing

Sample No.: 102

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV microscopy: yes

EDX: yes

Observations:

3. Greyish black layer: ornament

1. Gold, applied directly over the ground, thickness c. 1000nm (rough measurement)

0. Light red layer: Ground, EDX: Pb, Ca - red lead, lead white, and probably calcium carbonate (chalk)

Cross-section No.: EP 092

Brief description of paint: flesh paint, two layers

Sample location: face, above the right eye

Sample No.: 155

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV microscopy: yes

EDX: yes

Observations:

3. Thin almost white layer: Highlights Pb, Ca - lead white and chalk

2. Transparent layer: glaze - EDX: Pb, Ca

1. Light pink layer: with white (lead white!), red (vermillion), brown (EDX: brown ochre, and a brown organic dye), black (vine black), blue pigment particles (azurite) and glassy inclusions. It exhibits a strong fluoresences - EDX: Matrix Pb, Ca, traces of Fe, flesh paint

0. Light red layer: Ground

Commentary:

The composition of the highlights is the same as that of the underpainting, including the amount of calcium.

• large wooden insert (3.5 x 2 cm) in the bottom right corner

• a split at the right edge of the panel has been reinforced with a nail, which was driven into the side of the panel. Small splinters of wood have been inserted along 6 cm of the split from the reverse

• the panel is slightly convexed

• old wood worm damage

• the panel has been minimally trimmed at the top and by at least the width of the bevel (c. 4-5 cm) at the bottom

• the background was overpainted with green at an early stage

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 160-161]

Restoration: 1981-87

• a green glaze, which had turned brown was removed from the background, but was left beneath the inscription and and the coat of arms

• abrasion and small losses in the face and the bodice

• the gold on the neckband has been partially reconstructed

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 161]