Winged Altarpiece with Scenes from the Life of the Virgin [central panel]: Twelve Year Old Jesus in the Temple (t. l.), Christ Appearing to his Mother (t. r.) and The Death of the Virgin (b.)

The following methods were employed during the examination: stereomicroscopy, XRF spectroscopy (Nitron XLt), UV-light, x-radiography, Infrared reflectography (Osiris 900 - 1700 nm)

The panel consists of two hardwood boards (not beech or oak but possibly limewood) with vertical grain, carefully smoothed on the reverse and not coated. A rebate is present on the upper edge. There are narrow later additions at the other edges.

A barbe or crest of ground has been preserved along the edges of the panel (see x-radiograph), suggesting that frame members were attached to the panel before the ground was applied. It may be assumed that the panels were fixed in their original frame before the ground was applied as the dimensions of the painted surface on the inner and outer sides of the wings differ.

Clearly pronounced underdrawing with a brush and /or quill pen employing a fluid black medium. The architectural elements and the figures are defined by contours and described in some detail, considering the scale of the image. Areas of shadow are occasionally indicated with hatching strokes.

At the bottom edge of the panel at the right there is a short calligraphic line, c. 1 cm in height and 1.6 cm in width. This does not outline anything and was not considered in the painting process.

No major changes to the composition were made during the painting process.

Using XRF analysis various elements were detected in the paint and after a comparison of their optical characteristics the following pigments could be identified:

Yellow: Pb, Ca, Sn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Sr, Hg

Pb: lead white; Pb/ Sn: lead tin yellow; Ca: chalk/gypsum? Fe/Mn: iron oxide/ ochre; Cu: blue/green with copper content?; Hg: vermillion; Sr:?

Blue: Cu, Pb, Ca, Fe, Sr

Cu: blue with copper content/azurite; Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum? Fe: iron oxide/ ochre; Sr:?

Green: Cu, Pb, Ca, Sn, Fe, Sr, (Zn)

Cu: green with copper content; Pb: lead white; Pb/ Sn: lead tin yellow; Ca: chalk/ gypsum? Fe: iron oxide/ ochre; Sr: ?; Zn?: lake substrate? retouching?

Red lake: Pb, Ca, Zn, Mn, Fe, Sr

Pb: lead white; Zn: zinc, retouching, lake substrate? Ca: chalk/ gypsum? Fe/ Mn: iron oxide/ ochre; Sr: ?

Red: Ca, Hg, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn

Ca: chalk/ gypsum? Hg: vermillion; Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white, retouching? lake substrate?; Fe/Mn: iron oxide/ ochre

The following pigments were identified in the paint layers: lead white, lead tin yellow, vermillion, azurite and a green pigment containing copper. The zinc detected in the areas of red paint and the fluorescence of this area under UV radiation may indicate the presence of retouching or overpaint applied as a glaze.

The paint was applied with a brush in opaque layers and as a glaze. In the robes the paint was in part stippled (see x-radiograph) and the patterns on the floor tiles were scratched into the paint with a pointed object. In the x-radiograph no major changes are visible in the composition.

Gilded frame (not original)

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unveröffentlichter Untersuchungsbericht, 23.08.2021]

The altarpiece is generally stable and in very good condition.

Six wooden blocks were glued to the reverse of the central panel to reinforce the joint. Some old woodworm holes are also visible. In particular the areas of red paint and the sky exhibit overpaint that was applied as a glaze to increase the colour saturation. The gilding on the frame is flaking and requires consolidation.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 23.08.2021]