Research Lowie Vercruysse

Abstract

This PhD delves deeper into understanding the creative process and technique of Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and his workshop practices. Rubens' extensive oeuvre is characterized by a complex modus operandi, with continuous experimenting during all stages of his paintings. While art historians and conservators eagerly seek compositional changes in Rubens' work to uncover his creative process and understand the underlying structure for developing treatment strategies, systematic studies of his materials and techniques remains limited. This study leverages MA-XRF imaging, a relatively recent technique in art analysis, to uncover Rubens' material composition and layer build-up. By visualizing elemental distribution, MA-XRF offers insights into sub-surface layers, revealing hidden compositions, sketches and position markers. MA-XRF imaging of the monumental paintings "Enthroned Madonna adored by Saints" (1628) and "Henry IV at the battle of Ivry" (1631) suggests Rubens employed a combination of copper or mercury based sketch lines to outline figures, offering new insights into his transfer and sketching methods. Furthermore, this research seeks to compile and expand knowledge on Rubens' materials and layering techniques, offering a comprehensive overview. By compiling and expanding this knowledge, the study will offer researchers and conservators unprecedented insights into Rubens' creative process, revealing the intricacies of his material choices and compositional strategies.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van der Snickt Geert
• Co-promoter: Janssens Koen
• Fellow: Vercruysse Lowie

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This PhD delves deeper into understanding the creative process and techniques of Peter Paul Rubens(1577-1640). Rubens' extensive oeuvre is characterised by a complex and variable modus operandi, with continuous experimenting during all stages of the conception of his paintings. While art historians and conservators eagerly seek compositional changes in Rubens' work to uncover his creative process and understand the underlying structure for developing treatment strategies, systematic analysis of his materials and techniques remains limited. This study leverages MA-XRF imaging, a relatively recent technique in art analysis, to uncover Rubens' material composition, sketching and transfer methods. By visualizing elemental distribution, MA-XRF offers insights into sub-surface layers, revealing hidden compositions, sketches and position markers. Preliminary MA-XRF analysis of the monumental altarpiece "Enthroned Madonna adored by Saints" (1628, KMSKA) suggests Rubens employed a combination of copper or mercury based sketch lines to outline figures, offering new insights into his transfer and sketching methods. Moreover, this research aims to compile and expand knowledge on Rubens' materials and layer buildup, providing a comprehensive understanding of his artistic practices. This will provide researchers and conservators with valuable insights into Rubens' artistic techniques, material composition and layer buildup, allowing for a deeper understanding of his creative process.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van der Snickt Geert
• Co-promoter: Janssens Koen
• Fellow: Vercruysse Lowie

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project