Restaurabits

Secrets and other curiosities

Detalle de la técnica pictórica de la obra "Retrato de Giovanna Tornabuoni", de Ghirlandaio

The hidden necklace

Comparative detail of the visible image and infrared reflectography of “Portrait of Giovanna Tournabuoni” by Ghirlandaio
Detalle comparativo de la imagen visible y la reflectografía infrarroja de "Retrato de Giovanna Tournabuoni" de Ghirlandaio

When we examined the infrared image of Ghirlandao’s Portrait of Giovanna degli Albizzi Tornabuoni we discovered that hidden in the neck was a necklace of round beads is not part of the final design.

This led us to consider the hypothesis that Ghirlandaoio may have based this portrait commission on the medals that were made to mark Giovanna’s wedding to Lorenzo Tornabuoni, as she had died by the time he worked on it. He used the design on the medals as a guide when executing the portrait of Giovanna and modified a few final aspects such as the bead necklace, replacing it with a simple black cord. 

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Detail of the X-ray image showing the inscription, hidden by the layers of paint on Carpaccio's painting
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Microsample taken from the red decoration of the dress of Ghirlandaio's painting "Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni"
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