All works in Early Netherlandish Paintings

anonymous

Portrait of Charles the Bold (1433-77), Duke of Burgundy

Southern Netherlands, c. 1460 - c. 1480

Object data

oil on panel

support: diameter 39 cm (incl. original frame) × thickness 3.3 cm (painted surface)

Inscriptions

  • inscription, upper left: Le.Lay.Emprins  (I have undertaken it)
  • coat of arms, upper right: quartered, 1 and 4, three gold fleurs-de-lis on a blue field; 2, divided vertically, i, three diagonal gold bands on a blue field, ii, a gold lion rampant on a black field; 3, divided vertically, i, three diagonal gold bands on a blue field, ii, a red lion rampant with gold claws on a silver field; an inescutcheon with a black lion rampant with red tongue and claws on a gold field. Crest: a silver crown and a red orb

Technical notes

The support, with engaged frame, consists of two vertically grained oak planks (6 and 32.5 cm). The reverse is covered with black paint. The entire support, along with the frame, was given a white ground. No underdrawing could be detected with infrared reflectography. The paint was applied thinly. Brushstrokes are clearly visible in the background, and the underlying ground shows through. Brown and yellow paint were used to suggest gold.

Scientific examination and reports

  • condition report: B. Schoonhoven, RMA, 29 March 2006

Condition

Fair. The panel is broken in the centre. There is discoloured retouching, especially in the background. The thick varnish has yellowed slightly.

Provenance

See the provenance for SK-A-3835

Object number: SK-A-3836

Credit line: Gift of Kunsthandel G. Wildenstein

Copyright: Public domain

The artist

Citation

M. Bass, 2010, 'anonymous, Portrait of Charles the Bold (1433-77), Duke of Burgundy, Southern Netherlands, c. 1460 - c. 1480', in J.P. Filedt Kok (ed.), Early Netherlandish Paintings, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.10007

(accessed 20 September 2024 01:47:02).

Footnotes