Portrait of Elector Friedrich of Saxony, the Wise

- hardly any underdrawing visible

[Report, Bernd Konrad 26.03.1990]

- the panel consists of one plank. There is a groove at the top and bottom edges (0.2 - 0.3 cm in width)

- regular block plane marks are visible on the reverse in the direction of the grain

Paint and ground barb retained on all four sides, the right and left edges exhibit an exposed wooden edge, at the right up to 0.3 cm

[Condition report, Hessisches Landesmuseum 1989]

• right and left edges bevelled, very narrow, at the right edge the bevel was done after it was trimmed. Only a minimal amount can have been trimmed from the panel as the barb has been retained.

• also trimmed at the top and the bottom as the barb is located on the very edge of the panel

• the woodsurface is splintery on the reverse

• there is a black coating on the reverse, not original as it is present in the lower groove

• adhesive label: 'M.C.M.' in ink, beneath that the number '386', in pencil

• isolated exit holes

• the glazes in the green areas has been preserved

• the flesh paint is abraded

• two small splits in the centre of the panel at the bottom edge

• in good condition

[Condition report, Hessisches Landesmuseum 1989]

Condition:

a) Support:

• thickness: 7 mm

• slightly warped

• there are no canvas applications on the panel

• the reverse is coarsely hewn and the edges are slightly bevelled

• loose splinters on the reverse

• very little woodworm damage

b) Paint layers:

• raised barb along the right and left edges of the panel (in part 0.5 cm from the edge)

• along the top and bottom the barb is located on the very edge, the ground was probably applied to the panel in its frame

• ground: white, dense and polished smooth, good adhesion to the support, almost no blistering

• green in the background: coarsely ground pigments and a green plant extract glaze which is now brown, the pigment particles appear in part white (addition of lead white as bulking agent?); at the top edge there is a black paint layer over the green one (from the original black boarder); at the left edge a tiny amount of green, that has not discoloured is visible

• apart from the background green all the other areas are executed employing a smooth and delicate application of paint with finely ground pigments, only isolated hairs on the beard were added in white as impasto highlights.

• small losses in the robe and the fur collar

• old fills and discoloured retouches in the face

• abrasion of the paint layers in the beard and the right eye

• the varnish has yellowed and is dirty

[Conservation report, Hessisches Landesmuseum, 1974]

• consolidation of loose wood splitters on the reverse

• the edges of the panel were treated with an application of shellac

• varnish removal with Isopropanol

• retouching with resin paints

• final varnish (dammar) and wax facing

[Conservation treatment report, Hessisches Landesmuseum, 1974]