Adam and Eve

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, black medium, brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing

- thin, long lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the main contours and describe essential details and facial features; no representation of volume with hatching strokes

Deviations:

- corrections were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e. g. apple in the tree above Adam, hands and feet of Adam and Eve)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Antonius Heusler

Comments:

- after a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2020]

The support is a hardwood panel (67.2 x 51.3 x c. 0.4 cm), which at some stage was extended at the right and left edges with battens of c. 0.6 cm width. The reverse of the panel has been thinned and cradled.

- white ground

- at the upper and lower edges the barbe has been retained (c. 0.8 cm from the edge)

- the ground and paint layers extend to the edge of the panel at the right and left

- an underdrawing executed with a fluid, black medium and a brush is visible in the infrared reflectogram; lnes of varying lengths delineate the main contours and essential details; these lines also differ in width and grey value; no changes were made to the composition in the underdrawing

- the final painted version does not deviate significantly from the underdrawing; some minor corrections were made to contours, e. g. of the arms, legs and feet of Adam and Eve; the paint was applied in a number of layers with brushes of varying widths; in the sky azurite was applied over a pale underpaint; the flesh paint was modulated over a mid-tone with admixtures of pink and greyish brown paint; in the eyes the iris was executed in greyish brown paint and then the pupils and contours of the iris were defined with a brownish black paint; the hair was painted in single strands over a yellowish brown underpaint

In the bottom left corner there is a yellowish grey wavy line running diagonally upwards from left to right; this wavy line cannot be interpreted as a signature as it is significantly different from Cranach's insignia.

[unpublished examination report, G. Heydenreich, 2019]

The wooden panel is stable and in relatively good condition. Losses and discoloured retouches are llimited to the vertical joints and splits. The paint layer exhibits a fine network of cracks.

[unpublished examination report G. Heydenreich, 2019]