An Ill-matched Pair

Employing XRF analysis the following elements were detected in the yellow paint layer and after comparing their optical properties the following pigments were identified:

Pb: lead white, Pb/ Sn: lead-tin white, Ca: chalk/ gypsum, Cu: a blue pigment containing copper Hg: vermilion Fe/ Mn: iron oxide/ochrer

[see pdf, graph of XRF results]

Examination in visible light, raking light and under the microscope (40x), under UV light and infrared reflectography.

- two boards,vertically aligned and butt-joined; the joint is at a slight angle and the glue used was not identified

- smoothed on both sides after the boards were glued together; the reverse exhibits the more or less parallel marks of a block plane; the recto was sanded smooth; not bevelled

- pale ground, thin application, slightly undulated

- fluid, dark medium applied with a brush; sparse lines indicating contours and some detail

- for the most part the paint application follows the design of the underdrawing; changes are visible in the head attire and the position of woman’s left eye

- Oil-resin medium with the addition of a water-based element

- Pigments vary in grade of coarseness

- thin multi-layered application with brushes of varying thicknesses

- brush marks clearly visible, but not impasto; initial application dead-colour and modulated with a thin application of a darker or paler tone respectively; details like eyelashes or nose hair added with a fine tipped brush, in a final stage contours were reinforced with black lines

- rendition of the young man’s green robe complex initial ochre and brown layer; modulated with yellow lines and drawn together with a green glaze

- lead-tin-yellow was identified in the young man’s yellow collar employing XRF (G. Heydenreich); this yellow tone is also visible in the highlights of the hair, the coins, the chains and the pendant

- pearling of the medium could be observed in some of the finer detail

Coatings:

- the discoloured remnants of varnish in the recesses of the brushwork could not be clearly identified as original

- 20th century, simple smooth profile, beech wood, mitred, stained dark brown

[Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg, unpublished Examination Report, 2021/2022]

Numerous conservatioin campaigns, fragile condition with for the most part older damage

Support:

• cropped on all four sides at an earlier stage

• from the top edge a c. 39.4 cm split along the joint was measured

• verso, bottom edge c. 29.6 cm from the left edge: a split along the grain, running at a slight angle to the left, 20.1 cm in length

• both boards are convexly warped

• extensive woodworm channels (not active), numerous exit holes and the wood has often only survived as a thin layer over the channels

Ground/Paint layers:

• marks from woodworm channels visible on the paint surface, in some setions the paint layers have sunk slightly, numerous losses caused by exit holes, which were filled and retouched at some stage in the past

• extensive overcleaning of the upper paint layers, this has often been covered with either glazes or semi-opaque overpiant; the arrangement of the folds in the white garment have been repainted

• all paint layers containing admixtures with white or yellow pigments have become more transparent with time

Coatings:

• at least one varnish layer, probably a natural resin with the addition of wax, easily scratched with a matt appearance

[Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg, unpublished Examination Report, 2021/2022]