Adam and Eve in Paradise

- probably beech wood (visual observation, J. Koch), a single panel with the grain running horizontally, smoothed on all sides

- horizontal plane marks are visible on the reverse

- there is a black pigmented coating on the reverse, that leaves a c. 0.1 cm unpainted boarder along the edge; it cannot be established if this was applied at the same time as the painting was executed

- thin application of a light coloured ground; probably sanded

- the barbe still exists in places - the panel was fixed in a frame when the ground was applied

- a pin hole is visible at the centre of the painting (since filled) and an incised line runs around the image c. 0.8 cm from the edge

- partially visible through the paint layers: fluid, dark pigmented medium, brush application

- a sketchy description of contours and the positioning of a few essential details can be discerned

- relatively thick lines in relation to the size of the painting

- pigmented oil-based medium applied in numerous layers, opaque paint was also employed as scumbles

- characteristic relief in the areas of green paint results from the use of very viscose and transparent paint to execute details; applied with brushes of varying thicknesses

- the painted version deviates very little from the underdrawing

- the initial layer was applied as a glaze with streaky brush strokes; the background was executed first, then the figures and the animals and subsequently the more detailed execution of trees, fruit and the remaining background; the final details were executed in impasto with an opaque black paint and highlights were added in white and pale yellow paint

- there is a thin black boarder around the edge

- there is gilding at the edge over a reddish brown size; the type of gilding has not yet been established; in some sections it extends a few millimetres into the picture plane

- there may be remnants of an original coating in the dark areas

- new frame (2005, J. Koch (KMH), stepped circle milled out of a blockboard, the base of the frame is brown, the steps were oil gilded over a brownish red bole, the outer rings were paintied with golden bronze paint and waxed (?)

[Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg, revised 2020]

• the painting has probably been restored numerous times, the original frame no longer exists

• its condition is only relatively stable, although the losses are all older the painting layer does exhibit a tendency to flaking, particularly in the sky along the fills

Support:

• very minor convex warp, there is a black coating on the reverse, along a vertical strip measuring up to 2.5 cm it has been thinned, revealing the wood in places, a coating containing wax is missing in these areas, it may have been removed to fascilitate the application of the paper labels?

Ground/ Paint layerst:

large losses particularly in the upper section of the painting, filled and retouched, in the sky extensive abrasion, discoloured overpaint covers these areas, small retouches can be found over the entire surface

Coating:

• old coatings, probably to a large extent removed; lighter areas have been partially cleaned; application of at least one natural resin varnish, containing wax

Frame:

• in good condition

[Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg, revised 2020]