THE ALTARPIECE OF THE SALDAÑA CHAPEL

SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS 

Analysis of 12 samples: 2 of wood, 6 of polychrome decoration and 4 of pictorial layers*.

Results:

- Wood used in altarpiece (undetermined whether predella or frame): poplar (Populus)

- Wood used in reliefs: walnut (Juglans sp)

Polychrome decoration:

- Polychrome decoration applied to two layers of gypsum, the thicker lower layer 150-300μm thick and the thinner, upper layer 100-390μm thick. Agglutinated using animal glue and surface impregnation.

- Diversity of agglutinates: traces of probably egg tempera, glue distempers (blue azurite) and linseed oil (incarnations).

Pigments used: white lead, ochres, yellow iron oxide, vermillion, azurite, indigo, verdigris and charcoal.  

Metal surfaces: 100% pure gold, silver.

The detection of gypsum in the preparation leads us away from a possible Flemish manufacture whose layers of polychrome decoration were usually mixed using chalk. This therefore inclines the balance in favour of local manufacture.

*Larco Chemical Report (Enrique Parra): Chemical Analysis of the Polychrome Decoration of the Saldaña Altarpiece in the Convent of Santa Clara in Tordesillas, Valladolid. 2013. AOR Report (Artes y Oficios de Restauración): 2012, Cultural heritage Archives.