Drawing Sheet 5-C

Support

Dimensions:

22.6 x 17.2 cm

Cut edge:

Right edge

Paper type:

Ivory wove paper, discolored to tan

Pinholes:

No discernable pinholes

Additional notes:

Many breaks/fractures in upper area of the support inhibit visibility of pinholes

Sewing holes:

No discernable sewing holes

Edges overlapping adj. sheet:

—

Edges extending below adj. sheet:

Left and top edges

Edges abutting adj. sheet:

Right and left edges

Media

Colored pencil:

Black pencil is used to define the overall composition; there are possibly two different densities of black pencil (one possibly conté crayon)

Blue pencil is applied in the background imagery of smoke

Red pencil is applied over the black pencil in the lower area in the central figures

Yellow wash or pencil appears to have been added in the upper center area of background (possibly to highlight flames)

Graphite:

Graphite is visible throughout the sheet, particularly vertically through the center left area between the two figures. It appears to have been applied over the black pencil in the center-left area of the composition, as if to strengthen initial compositional lines. Other areas, particularly in the small faces throughout, are executed entirely of graphite and were likely later compositional developments (faces extending into 4C are executed in graphite)

Watercolor:

Black wash may have been used to create tonal shading in lower portion of drawing

Scratching:

Scratching is used to create highlights in the center figure’s facial features & chest

Additional media notes:

Dark tonal work in lower portion of drawing appears to have been created with black pencil, but could also be black wash or charcoal?

Composition

Drawing to sheet edges:

Drawing extends to all edges except upper 2/3 of left edge below join; lower left edge exhibits some black pencil lines

Drawing into adjacent sheet:

A few (3) dark black pencil extend at top left of nimbus across to join 5B; at upper right edge in 5D and possibly at top edge

The composition extends into 4C, in the small faces though the image size, facial details and media differ slightly from those above; and the smoke stacks continue above in like media

Compositional changes/additions:

The nimbus in the upper left figure is drawn over earlier composition

Artist’s patches:

The center bottom figure’s genitalia was covered with a patch extending into 4C

Former restoration:

The lower 2/3 of the right side and lower right corner were filled

Drawing on verso:

—

Additional observations:

Graphite is not visible below overlapping edges, was it uniquely used over the pencil and after the work was joined to develop areas?

Analysis

Technique

Area/location

Results/observations

Photo microscopy:

Lower left edge

Document media along lower left edge

Ultra-violet radiation:

Overall

Paper is light reflective along left edge in area of former overlap; the paper absorbs UV in remaining sheet

Infrared radiation:

Black pencil/

graphite media

Raman Spectroscopy:

X-Ray diffraction:

Yellow pigment in upper center