Restoration in an Open Workshop
Revealing the Secrets of a 17th Century Masterpiece
Contact and Information
Dr. Jørgen Wadum, Keeper of Conservation, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark
j.wadum@smk.dk
“Jordaens. The Making of a Masterpiece” – A description of the treatment processes, analytical methods and results are available on the website of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
www.smk.dk/jordaens
Illustrated book: “Jordaens. The Making of a Masterpiece”, 120 pages, ISBN 978-87-92023-26-1
Image Gallery
All images: © Statens Museum for Kunst, Kopenhagen
- 1: Jacob Jordaens (1593 – 1678): “The Tribute Money. Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish”, also called “The Ferry Boat to Antwerp”, oil on canvas, 279.5 by 467 cm
- 2: The microscopic work in the open workshop in the museum gallery
- 3: The microscopic work in the open workshop in the museum gallery
- 4: Saponifications in the paint surface visible as tiny white spots penetrating the paint layers
- 5: X-radiograph (detail) with the revealed head of a woman painted over.
- 6: Microscopic work in the Museum’s lab with a Research Microscope Leica DM4000 M with a Leica DFC490 camera
- 7: Cross-section (magnification 100x) from stage 1 in the painting process (taken from the painting section with the now hidden woman)
- 8: Cross-section (magnification 100x) from stage 3 in the painting process. The samples in picture 7 and 8 clearly show the discrepancy in pigment composition in the two double grounds.
- 9: The project team of the Statens Museum for Kunst: Jørgen Wadum, Keeper of Conservation and Project Leader; Eva de la Fuente Pedersen, Senior Research Curator; Pauline Lehmann Banke, Conservator; Troels Filtenborg, Conservator; and Johanneke Verhave, Conservator
