The RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History launches Marks on Art, a new database featuring marks on late medieval sculpture and on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century paintings from the Northern and Southern Netherlands. The database is part of RKD Research and was developed in close cooperation with specialists in the field. Marks on Art will be continuously enhanced with new data.
Different types of marks
Several types of marks appear on sculptures and paintings, each with a specific function and origin. Maker’s marks, such as master’s marks, workshop marks, and those of copperplate or panel makers, were applied by the artist or craftsman themselves. Guild marks, added by the local guild, ensured the quality of the materials used. Some sculptures and paintings also bear (traces of) groove or forest marks – geometric motifs carved into the wood with a groove knife. These marks indicate the trade and transport of wood, often originating from Eastern Europe. A separate category consists of positioning marks, usually numbers or letters, which show how different statue groups were to be arranged, for example, in a carved altarpiece.
Pieter de Bloot (1601-1658), St. Martin and the beggar, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The Rotterdam panel maker ‘4MM’ can be seen on the back of the panel.
Unique information about artworks
All of these marks provide unique information about the artwork, relating to the maker, dating, place of manufacture, materials used, and production process. They can also offer insights into previous restorations and the object’s provenance history. Each record in Marks on Art contains a detailed description of a mark, accompanied by one or more images, and is linked to the corresponding artwork in RKDimages. By systematically compiling marks in a database, it becomes easier to recognize patterns in the marks and connect artworks to specific makers, workshops, or periods. Additionally, connections can be made with technical research data, such as those from Dendro4Art. This database serves as a valuable tool for researchers and restorers, enabling them to make informed decisions in the conservation and further study of art objects.
Anonymous, Blessing Christ Child with globe, ca. 1510-1520, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen. The Malines M can be seen on the front of the pedastal, the hallmark of the Malines Saint Luke’s guild for the quality of the polychromy, and on the underside the three Malines poles, the guild hallmark for the quality of the wood.
Feedback requested
The Marks on Art database currently contains over 1500 marks. The project is ongoing, and new marks will be added continuously. Several fields, including literature and remarks, will be added at a later phase. The RKD welcomes feedback from users of this first version of Marks on Art for its further development. Questions, comments, and suggestions can be sent to marksonart@rkd.nl.