Van Eyck – Stratigraphy

Jan van Eyck, Ritratto di Margherita van Eyck, 1439

Jan van Eyck Portrait of Margaret van Eyck

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Support
in oak wood (the structure of this wood is very compact)

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Animal glue

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Preparation
two or three thin layers of calcium carbonate (white chalk) and glue, sanded with great care

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Drawing
by brush with bone black diluted with a water-based binder

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Primer
intermediate layer of drying oil, slightly toned, with the function of avoiding the absorption, by the preparation, of the binder contained in the subsequent layers of color

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Paint layer
Superimpositions of thin oil layers, almost dense glazes, relatively more opaque at first and more crystalline on top, exploiting the brightness of the preparation for the light areas

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Glazes
numerous superimpositions of translucent layers in various binders depending on the colors used, modulate the underlying shapes

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“A corpo” highlights
bright brushstrokes applied “a corpo” (with full-coverage) on the maximum lights with pure lead white

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Resin varnish

Jan van Eyck,  (Maastricht 1390 ca. – Bruges 1441), Ritratto di Margherita van Eyck, 1439 – oil on wood 32,5 x 26 cm – Groeninge Museum, Bruges