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'The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints' attributed to Michael Pacher

Jill Dunkerton, Susan Foister and Marika Spring
Technical Bulletin Volume 21, 2000

Abstract

The panel and frame of The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints are compared with altarpieces of similar date by Michael Pacher. The panel has a chalk ground on the front and a dolomite ground on the reverse. The drawing is transparent to infrared and may be in iron gall ink, but where visible it is consistent with the attribution.

The relief pattern of the gilded background has been carved into the thick ground and is of fine quality, and the gilding was applied over a chalk-based black preparatory layer with a pure gold leaf. (An altarpiece by the artist included a variety of metal leaf). The medium for the paint is linseed oil, and the pigments for different areas are detailed: they include azurite for blue and purple areas.

All the materials and their application are consistent with the attribution.

Keywords 

altarpieces, artists' materials, attribution, Michael Pacher, panel paintings

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'The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints' attributed to Michael Pacher, Jill Dunkerton, Susan Foister and Marika Spring (PDF 20.76MB)

To cite this article we suggest using

Dunkerton, J., Foister, S., Spring, M. '"The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints" attributed to Michael Pacher'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 21, pp 4–19.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/dunkerton_foister_spring2000

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