TECHNICAL REPORT

1389 Memling: Presentation in the Temple

Method: X-ray fluorescence analysis

Purpose: identification of pigments (in situ)

Instrument settings: Mo-target; 49kV; 0.5mA; no filters; SiLi detector; 1024 MCA; 0-40 keV spectrum.

Results:

1 Blue robe. 203 mm from right edge; 240 mm from bottom edge.

Major constituent: copper. Minor constituent: lead.

Trace constituent: iron.

Pigments present: azurite,; white lead. Indigo and ultra- marine might also be present.

2 Green bodice of dress. 238 mm from right edge; 315 mm from bottom edge.

Major constituents: copper, lead. Minor constituent: tin. Trace constituents: iron, calcium. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; one or more of the following copper pigments: azurite, malachite, verdigris and copper resinate. This area has a much lower mass absorption coefficient than the blue paint (analysis # 1), which is a likely indication that some of the following pigments are present: copper resinate, verdigris, ultra- marine, indigo, gamboge, and yellow lake.

3 Red robe; 310 mm from right edge; 315 mm from the bottom edge.

Major constituents: mercury, lead. Trace constituents: copper, iron. Pigments present: vermillion; white lead and/or red lead; probably red lake (inferred from the area's low mass absorption coefficient).

4 Pale yellow in window, including some blue and red paint. 331 mm from right edge; 385 mm above bottom.

Major constituent: lead. Minor constituents: tin, copper. Trace constituents: iron, cadmium. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; white lead and/or massicot; azurite. 2

5. Green dress of woman holding Child to right of Virgin; 115 mm from right edge; 317 mm to bottom edge.

Major constituents: copper, lead. Minor constituents: tin, calcium.

Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; one or more of the following copper pigments: azurite, malachite, verdigris, copper resinate. This area is very similar to the green paint in analysis # 2. Therefore some of the following pigments are probably present: copper resinate, verdigris, ultra- marine, indigo, gamboge, yellow lake.

6 Yellow robe on figure at right side; 315 mm from bottom edge; 65 mm from right edge.

Major constituents: lead, tin.

Minor constituent: copper. Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; white lead and/or massicot; a copper pigment such as azurite, malachite, verdigris or copper resinate.

7 Purple robe on figure on right side; 315 mm from bottom edge.

Major constituents: lead, copper. Minor constituents: mercury, iron, calcium. Pigments present: azurite; white lead and/or red lead; vermillion; iron oxides; chalk and/or gypsum; probably red lake; possibly ultramarine or indigo.

8 Yellow near figure on right side. Near analysis # 6, but using smallest collimators in order to keep the x-ray beam from impinging on any paint other than yellow.

Major constituents: lead, tin.

Minor constituent: copper. Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; probably white lead. Evidently there is a blue or green copper pigment present underneath the yellow paint. Could this be a design change?

9. Rays around Virgin's head.

Major constituents: lead, tin. Minor constituents: gold, iron, copper. Materials present: gold leaf, lead-tin yellow, iron oxides. 3

10. Beige column to left of Virgin; 255 mm from left edge; 405 mm from bottom edge.

Major constituent: lead. Minor constituent: calcium. Trace constituents: iron, copper. Not detected: tin. Pigments present: white lead and/or massicot; gypsum and/or chalk; possibly yellow lake or gamboge; possibly bone black or lampblack.

11. Blue trim on altar cloth.

Major constituents: lead, copper. Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: white lead; probably azurite; possibly ultra- marine and indigo.

12. Gray stonework at left; 102 mm from left edge; 205 mm above bottom edge.

Major constituent: lead. Minor constituent: copper. Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: white lead and/or massicot; copper pigments such as azurite, malachite and copper resinate; probably lampblack or charcoal or bone black.

13. Yellow shoe unshaded area.

Major constituent: lead. Minor constituent: iron.

Trace constituent: copper. Pigments present: iron oxides; white lead and/or massicot; possibly yellow lake or gamboge.

14. Yellow brocade; 158 cm from bottom edge; 372 mm from left edge.

Major constituent: lead. Minor constituent: copper, mercury, tin. Trace constituent: iron. Pigments present: lead-tin yellow; vermillion; white lead and/or massicot; possibly gamboge and yellow lake.

Conclusions:

1 Palette: white Lead, lead-tin yellow, vermillion, iron oxides, azurite. Probably gypsum, chalk and red lake; probably bone black or charcoal . Possibly ultramarine, indigo, malachite, 4

verdigris, copper resinate. Possibly red lead, massicot, yellow lake and gamboge.

2. Ground. All the areas analyzed contained some copper. It is unusual for copper pigments to be this generally distributed in a painting. Perhaps the painting has a tinted ground or priming containing some copper pigment.

Barbara A. Miller Conservation Scientist January 3, 1983

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