Centuries-old paintings are full of secrets: the depictions make use of symbolism that we no longer readily understand today and must first decipher. The origin of the works and the original purpose for which they were created are often a mystery. The materials and painting technique, on the other hand, can tell us a lot about the time of origin and the artist. As most of these old panel paintings have been restored, the question also arises as to which painted areas are still original or what may have been added later.
Workshop of Joos van Cleve (1585-1540), PMadonna of the Cherries, ca. 1530, Draiflessen Collection, Mettingen
For this exhibition the museum collaborates with the conservator Ludmila Henseler to get to the bottom of the secrets of two panel paintings from our collection: Joos van Cleve’s The Madonna of the Cherries (ca. 1530) and The Holy Family with Angels (ca. 1510), the latter ), the latter by a yet unidentified Old Netherlandish master.