The painting before surface restoration

The Domitian before the surface restoration. Photo: Helena Christerdotter.

Retouching and overpainting

Before the surface restoration, the paintings conservators stated: ”The painting is covered by a very thick darkened and oxidized dammar varnish which is partially blanched and obscures the overall look of the painting. It has been partially overpainted and has many darkened and discolored retouches. The varnish and the retouches result in a difficulty to fully see the painting.”

Retouches, Domitian’s face.

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Retouches, Domitian’s right hand.

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Retouches, Domitian’s left arm.

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Later changes

Later changes have been made to the original composition. For example, all the leaves we now see in the laurel wreath are painted over the original leaves. The newer leaves are more in numbers and have different shapes than the overpainted original leaves as one can see in the overlay image above to the left. The overlay image consists of an x-ray image of the head and a corresponding transparent image of the head superimposed on the x-ray image. Based on pigments found in the newer leaves the overpainting must have taken place after the early 18th century.

The left half of the red bow is also painted at a later time.
A collar chain with a head, possibly depicting the Roman sun god Sol, appears in the direct centre of the painting and on each side of the head there is a Sol symbol or a Mycenaean rosette. The collar chain with the symbols does not appear in Sadeler’s engraving or in any of the other versions of Domitian. The collar chain has been added later, it is unclear when.
Detail of collar chain.

Compare the ”Sol” symbols with Leonardo’s drawing in the Codex Atlanticus below.

F. 272 verso. Photo: The Ambrosiana, Milan.
Research overview