The transformation of Adriaen Thomasz. Key’s Portrait of William of Orange

  • Carol Pottasch Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.827
Keywords: Complete reintegration, historical context, ethical considerations, Mowilith 20

Abstract

When the iconic portrait of William of Orange by Adriaen Thomasz Key was brought to the conservation studio of the Mauritshuis, examination of the radiograph showed that part of the painting was not original. Prior to the painting’s arrival in the Mauritshuis, the left plank of the original oak support had been lost or removed, and replaced by another plank. Also, the whole painted surface, except for the face, was broadly overpainted. During the recent treatment, the conservators made the decision to remove most of the overpaint, and retouch the painting in an illusionistic way. Different options were considered for re-integrating the addition. This paper discusses the ethical and historical aspects that played an important role in the decisions to restore this painting.

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Author Biography

Carol Pottasch, Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis

Carol Pottasch studied art history at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen where she specialized on subjects connected with technical art history with Professor J.R.J. van Asperen de Boer. After that, studying with a. van Grevenstein she specialized in conservation of Master pieces. For the last nearly 30 years she has been working at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

References

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DIGNEY-PEER, S., THOMAS, K., PERRY, R., TOWNSEND, J., GRITT, S. (2012). “The Imitative retouching of easel Paintings”. In STONER, J. H. and RUSHFIELD, R. (Ed.). Conservation of Easel Paintings, Routledge.

JONCKHEERE, K. (2007). Adriaen Thomasz. Key (c. 1545 – C. 1589). Portrait of a Calvinist Painter. Turnhout: Brepols.

LADEMACHER, HORST (Ed.). (1999-2000). Under the Orange Tree: The house of Holland and Germany, exhibition catalogue, Krefeld-Oranienburg-Apeldoorn. Vol. 1.

MILLIGEN, A. V. (2009). Adriaen Thomasz. Key; Portrettist van Willem van Oranje, Afstudeerscriptie, SRAL, Maastricht.

MUIR, K. (2009). “Approaches to the reintegration of paint loss: theory and practice in the conservation of easel paintings”. In METZGER, C. A. (Compiler), Painting Conservation Catalog, Vol. 3: Inpainting, Washington, 3-22.

SLUYTER, N. (Ed.) (1993). Mauritshuis Illustrated General Catalogue. The Hague.

TILLEMANS, D. (1979-1980). Biografische gegevens over de schilder Willem Key (1515-1568) en zijn familie, Gentse bijdragen tot de Kunstgeschiedenis, 25.

Published
2020-12-10
How to Cite
Pottasch, C. (2020). The transformation of Adriaen Thomasz. Key’s Portrait of William of Orange. Ge-Conservacion, 18, 190-199. https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.827
Issue
Vol. 18 (2020): Ge-conservación Nº18
Section
Suplemento
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