Martin Luther, bust-length, facing right

Identification of wood species: beech wood

Youngest annual ring: 1524

[Klein Report, 14.05.1992]

- an underdrawing executed with a pencil is clearly visible to the naked eye. In addition there are prominent lines defining the facial features, e. g. on Luther's nose. The design may have been traced. However, as was established through the infrared examination carried out by Dr. Konrad both types of underdrawing are less easily deciphered in the infrared range than with the naked eye.

[Conservation report, Hessisches Landesmuseum, 13 July 1990]

- an underdrawing is hardly visible

[Report, Bernd Konrad 1990]

- beech wood

- bevelled along all four edges and fixed in an engaged frame

- the reverse has been smoothed with a plane and a chisel

- original black coating on the reverse, also covers the reverse of the frame members

- no precise barbe. This suggests that the painting was fixed in the frame after completion

- original frame

- the side members are attached to the bottom member employing a mortise and tenon join

- remnants of oil gilding are still visible on the inner profile and the sill

- there is a latch with a button on the corresponding front edge to close the panel

[Condition report, Hessisches Landesmuseum 1989]

- the tree for the wood employed was felled between 1410 and 1524

[Peter Klein Report, 18 Jan 1982, also 14.05.1992]

• numerous pierced blisters appear stable; wax is visible in the pinholes, and also in part some varnish

• this also covers the losses

• the previous cleaning was very thorough; the paint layers in the hair and the fur appear particularly thin

• inspection under the stereomicroscope revealed light brown retouches in the hair

• a thick wax layer was applied over the varnish; there are also remnants of wax on the frame

• an orange-brown varnish is visible in the hollows and particularly in an original dent at the top left edge; whether this varnish is original is difficult to tell

• an examination of the remaining gilding on the frame showed that it is a more recent addition and was applied over a thick chalk ground (glue and oil gilding)

• tests showed however that the frame is original

• 90% of the original gilding has been removed leaving only the ground

• three exit holes indicate the presence of woodworm in the past. On both portraits they are located at the bottom edge near the frame; on the portrait of Luther there is a further hole in the top left corner of the frame.

[conservation report, Hessisches Landesmuseum, 13 July 1990]

• thick wax coating

• otherwise in good condition

[Condition report, Hessisches Landesmuseum 1989]

• on the portrait of Luther a small wooden wedge was inserted between the panel and the frame. In addition the screws were adjusted.

• surface dirt removed; stuborn dirt removed with oil of turpentine and white spirits

• a significant amount of the wax application was removed

• the surface was polished with a silk cloth

• to avoid the addition of more layers a new varnish was not applied

• dots and dense areas of varnish were removed with a scalpel from the background

• two discoloured retouches were removed from Luther's face

• retouching was carried out with lean oil paints and varnish to integrate them into the smooth surface

• white dots and small losses in the dark areas were inpainted

• losses on the frame were filled with a glue/chalk mixture and retouched with water-colours, the exterior of the frame was retouched with poster paints

[Conservation report, Hessisches Landesmuseum, 13 July 1990]