St Mary Magdalene

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- initial design executed with a dry drawing material, dark chalk (?); continued employing a fluid, black medium; brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand schematic underdrawing (where visible)

- fine, thin lines (initial design), combined with thin to broader brushstrokes employing a fluid medium

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the contours of the figures and indicate facial features and details; the broad lines are more sketchy; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- almost no adjustments made during the painting process; changes (e. g. the animals in the background, the pattern on the dress has been shifted slightly in the chest region

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder or workshop

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich cda 2014]

- clearly visible underdrawing in the outer garments, slightly shifted in the painted version

- the dark lively lines are applied in different widths

- the ductus suggests the use of a pen with which lines were often repeated

- thin lines are also visible in the area of the oinment jar and the outer contours of the right sleeve

- short, arched pen lines also visible in the background

- the comparatively sparse underdrawing could be explained by the fact that the painted version deviates only minimally from the underdrawing

- nevertheless there is a freehand underdrawing of two animal scenes in the background

[Schaefer, Saint-George 2003, 27]

• large discoloured retouching in the sky on the join at the left

• at the bottom of the join there are small retouches

• at the bottom right edge there is a large reconstruction

• the paint of the sailing ship in the background on the right is abraded

[Cat. Cologne 1969, 43-44]