Portrait of a woman

Technical notes

The support is a single vertically grained oak panel, 0.6 cm thick, which is slightly bevelled at the top and bottom. Dendrochronology has shown that the plank came from the same tree as that used for the pendant SK-A-2108, and that the youngest heartwood ring was formed in 1516. The panel could have been ready for use by 1527, but a date in or after 1541 is more likely. Originally the reverse of the panel was probably covered with a light-coloured ground and reddish brown marbling, only some traces of which still remain. The ground on the front of the painting is probably of a light colour (off-white), and is smooth. Although there is much retouching along the edges, remains of an unpainted edge and traces of a barbe are present on the left and right sides. A white 'imprimatura' with broad brushstrokes, visible through the paint layers, was probably applied over the ground layer. An underdrawing could not be revealed with infrared reflectography. The figure was reserved.