Restaurabits

Secrets and other curiosities

Detalle de la obra después de la restauración

An unusual pigment

Detail of the stibnite mineral found in the micro-sample taken from the armor zone
Detalle del mineral estibina encontrado en la micromuestra tomada de la zona de la coraza

One of the curiosities revealed by the study of Carpaccio's painting is the detection of a pigment not commonly found in paint: stibnite. This pigment was normally used to make bells and metal objects. Carpaccio employed it here to capture the metallic gleam of the knight's armour, achieving a more realistic effect.

Stibnite, also known as antimonite, is a naturally occurring mineral composed of antimony (antimony sulphide) which, in pigment form, is dark grey in colour. The mineral is abundant in some areas of Italy and was also widely used in Germany, from where it was exported to Venice in the form of cakes for casting bells and other uses, such as pottery, foundries, and to make mirrors and medicinal products.

Listen

More restaurabits

Comparative detail of the visible image and the X-ray of Balthus' painting “The Game of Cards”
Restaurabit
The unknown figure

Our suspicion that the male figure concealed significant information and some kind of secret was confirmed when the painting was studied using a combination of scientific techniques. 

 
Detail of the X-ray image showing the inscription, hidden by the layers of paint on Carpaccio's painting
Restaurabit
The enigma of the inscription

Carpaccio’s young knight has always proved enigmatic to scholars. One of the most curious findings of our study was the discovery of a concealed inscription on the back of the painting: ‘A. Durer’. 
Microsample taken from the red decoration of the dress of Ghirlandaio's painting "Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni"
Restaurabit
Did you know that each brushstroke hides a secret?

The study of materials of the work investigates the real composition of each layer. The materials analysis was carried out to determine the composition of the original materials used in the painting and how they are distributed in the various layers.

The information obtained from this analysis is useful for understanding the pictorial technique that the artist used.  Each of the micro-samples contains true and reliable evidence of the materials Ghirlandaio used in this work.
View all