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Overall recto before treatment

Overall verso before treatment

Overall recto before treatment in raking light. 

Detail of face before treatment

X-radiograph detail of the head taken using a Pantak-Seifert 65 MF2 X-Ray Tube at 25kV and 3mA for 30sec. The brighter areas indicate more radio-opaque materials, such as lead. The different preparation of the two sides of the turban are clearly demonstrated in this image. 

X-radiograph detail of the largest batten over the middle of the figure taken using a Pantak-Seifert 65 MF2 X-Ray Tube at 25kV and 3mA for 30sec. No additional joinery or nails are noticeable between the three planks making up the wooden substrate.  

Diagram of the location and size of all the battens and hardware used to secure them before treatment. 

Detail of verso near proper left wrist showing ghost image of additional batten likely put in place to support the now broken end of the sword. There are also three finger prints left in one of the varnish coatings that continued onto the verso. 

Overall verso before treatment under ultraviolet illumination (2 Broncolor minicom 80 lights in 300-315nm range). The finger prints stand out even more due to fluorescence under UV light. 

Overall recto before treatment under UV illumination

Still shot of diagram of condition issues and some sampling locations. The diagram is an AdobePhotoshop file with discreet layers for each condition issue. 

Photomicrograph of the surface in the area of the belt before treatment. 

Detail under UV illumination (handheld Mineralight Lamp Model UVGL-58 multiband UV 254/366nm) of an area on the figure's torso previously covered by a paper label. The less quenched fluorescence in this same area suggests that the final coating was applied while the paper label was still adhered. The dark circles are pigmented wax used during a documented previous conservation treatment to fill the nail holes used to attach the paper label. 

Detail before treatment of bottom, proper left side. This area was documented as being consolidated with BEVA and inpainted with PVAs in a previous conservation treatment. 

Detail of same area under UV illumination (handheld lamp). Previous retouching is visible by quenched fluorescence. 

Detail before treatment of proper right hand. 

Detail of same area (proper right hand) before treatment under UV illumination. The old break in the thumb is easily distinguishable by fluorescent adhesive material. 

Detail of verso of proper right hand before treatment. Some brown paper tape fragments are present on areas of the verso. 

Detail of proper left hand before treatment. 

Treatment

Overall image of the Winterthur paintings studio. The dummy board is supported against foam board covered in glassine screwed to a temporary wooden frame. Treatment progress can be continually assessed with the dummy board, upright, in his intended viewing orientation. 

Read about treatment currently in progress. 

Composite photomicrographs at 250X of a cross section taken from the blue robe. The inset image was taken under UV illumination with a Leitz Witzlar Aristoplan epi-fluorescence steromicroscope Comet EKE equipped with a Nikon camera. Seven distinct layers are present on this sample, which is a representative stratigraphy of the original painted surface. 

Cross section image at an angle which more clearly illustrates the uneven darker, oil-based coating on top of a natural resin coating.