The Annunciation

The following examination methods were employed:

Stereomicroscopy, XRF analysis (Thermo Scientific - Niton XL3t GOLDD+), UV- light , X-radiography (Oehm and Rehbein, Leonardo/ Varex-Perkin Elmer XRPad2 4336) and Infrared reflectography (Osiris 900 - 1700 nm)

The central panel consists of seven vertically aligned, butt-joined boards.The wood species was identified as fir (Abies sp.) under the microscope. The X-radiograph shows several knots in the wood. A bevel with a width of c. 10-15 mm (top), c. 5 mm (left), c. 10-13 mm (bottom), c. 13-14 mm (right) is preserved on the reverse along the edge of the panel.

The X-radiograph also shows that a fiberous material was applied to the recto of the central panel in three strips across the centre and the top ans bottom edges at right angles to the alignment of the boards before the ground was applied.

The ground is a white layer containing calcium. A barbe has been preserved at both the top and bottom c. 10 - 13 mm from the edge of the panel. An incised line runs parallel to the barbe along the top of the panel. The ground has an uneven edge at the left and extends to the edge of the panel on the right. On the reverse of the centre panel, bevels the left and right are also primed in white.

In several areas, the X-radiography reveals bubbles in the ground layer. The X-radiograph doesn't show any evidence to suggest the presence of a lead-white imprimatura.

The infrared reflectogram shows underdrawing lines executed using a liquid grey-black medium and brush. The partial use of a pen cannot be ruled out. Contours and essential details appear to be outlined with sweeping confident lines. In several areas of the centre panel, particularly in the robes and the angel's right foot, volume and shadow are acheived with parallel and cross-hatching strokes.

In several areas there are slight deviations between the compositional layout in the drawings and the painted execution: for example, the base of the lectern in the centre panel was initially created with a foreshortened perspective and the castle in the background was initially drawn without a large round tower. Mary's fingers were longer in the underdrawing.

The following elements were detected by XRF and after comparing their optical characteristics were following pigments were identified:

Central panel

Yellow MP1: Pb, Ca, Fe, Sn, Hg, Mn, Sr, (Zn/ Cu)

Pb: lead white; Pb/ Sn: lead tin yellow; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe/Mn: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Hg: vermilion; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?); Zn: Zinc white / retouch (?); Cu: Copper blue / green / siccative (?)

Blue MP2: Cu, Ca, Pb, Fe, Hg, Sr

Cu: copper blue; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: lead white; Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Hg: vermilion; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Red MP3: Ca, Pb, Fe, Hg, Sr

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: lead white/ red lead (?); Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Hg: vermilion; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Blue MP 4: Pb, Cu, Ca, Fe, Sr, Mn

Pb: lead white; Cu: copper-containing blue; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe/ Mn: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Gold MP 5: Ca, Fe, Au, Ti, Cu, Sr (Mn)

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe/ Ti/ Mn: iron oxide/ ochre/ bolus (?); Au: gold; Cu: accompanying element/ copper-containing blue/ green/ siccative (?); Ti: titanium dioxide (?); Sr: component of "chalk" (?)

Flesh paint: MP 6: Pb, Ca, Fe, Hg, Sr

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Hg: vermilion; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Red MP7: Ca, Pb, Hg, Fe, Sr

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: white lead; Hg: vermilion; Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Green MP 8: Pb, Cu, Ca, Sn, Fe, Sr

Pb: lead white; Cu: copper green; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb/ Sn: lead-tin yellow; Fe: Iron oxide/ ochre (?); Sr: Component of "chalk" (?)

Blue MP 9: Cu, Pb, Ca, Fe, Mn, Sr

Cu: copper-containing blue; Pb: Lead white; Ca: Chalk/gypsum (?); Fe/ Mn: iron oxide/ochre (?); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Blue MP 10: Cu, Pb, Ca, Fe, Sr, Sn

Cu: copper blue; Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Pb/ Sn: lead tin yellow (?); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Orange MP 11: Ca, Pb, Fe, Hg, Sn, Sr

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: lead white; Fe: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Hg: vermilion; Pb/ Sn: lead tin yellow; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Gold type MP 12: Ca, Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ag, Au, Sr

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: white lead; Cu/ Zn: brass (?); Zn: Zinc white (?); Fe: iron oxide/ochre (?); Au: gold; Ag: silver (Ag/Au: Zwischgold); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Ground front MP 13: Ca, Fe, Pb (Mn)

Ca: chalk/ gypsum ; Fe/ Mn: iron oxide/ ochre (?); Pb: white lead

Ground right MP 14: Ca, Ba, Pb, Sr, Hg

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Ba: barium sulphate; Pb: white lead/ red lead (?); Hg: vermilion; Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

Gold MP 15: Ca, Fe, Pb, Au, Ti, Sr, (Cu)

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe/ Ti: iron oxide/ ochre/ bolus (?); Pb: lead white; Au: gold; Ti: titanium dioxide (?); Cu: copper-containing blue/ green/ siccative (?); Sr: component of 'chalk'(?)

Gold inscription MP 16: Ca, Pb, Fe, Ag, Au, Sr

Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Pb: lead white; Fe: iron oxide/ ochre; (?); Au: gold; Ag: silver (Ag/Au: Zwischgold); Sr: component of 'chalk' (?)

The following pigments were identified in the paint layers: Lead white, lead-tin yellow, yellow ochre, red iron oxide pigment, vermilion, azurite and copper-containing green pigment. Gold and Zwischgold used as metal leaf. Brass powder (gold bronze) was used for retouching.

See the unpublished examination report for a more detailed description of the painting process.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich unpublished examination report, 07.01.2024].

The panels are in a slightly damaged and relatively stable condition.

Support:

There are woodworm channels (inactive) and several vertical cracks in the wooden supports, visible on the back of the centre panel and on the outer sides of the wing panels. There are narrow splits on the left edge of the centre panel. In raking light, the boards appear slightly warped. The narrower width of the bevel on the left edge suggests that the panel was subsequently trimmed by c. 1 cm. The original size of the panel was therefore c. 123.2 x 87.5 cm. In more recent times the panel was thinned on the reverse to c. 12 mm, stabilised with a cradle and painted black in the areas between the cradle members.

Paint layers:

A

fine craquelure.

Losses treated in several phases.

Flaking and small losses in the area of the headscarf and the mantle of the Mother of Sorrows on the right wing.

Metal:

The gold haloes appear abraded, and have been reworked several times. Some of this new gilding has since been removed. The inscriptions and the dove's halo have been retouched using black paint and bronze powder.

Varnish:

All the panels exhibit several applications of varnish.

Framing:

In the modern frame the wing paintings appear to be mounted too low in relation to the central panel. In addition the frame members cover a few square centimetres of the picture surface at the top and bottom of the wing panels.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 07.01.2024]